Alongside the surprise drop of the second information for each character beyond the broad feel for each of them. The most exciting of these, besides the main characters, is a quirky conspiracy theorist: Cal Hampton.
This new hacker character will continue a long tradition of “guy-in-the-chair” types that assist main characters throughout their heists in GTA. The most recent was Lester in GTA 5, most well-known from his missions in GTA Online, in which he yells at the player through the entire heist. Despite his annoying personality at times, Lester is a criminal mastermind who helps both the player in Online and Michael, Trevor, and Franklin in story mode. Cal Hampton seems set to adopt that role for GTA 6.
Rockstar Has Revealed Its Newest Hacker
Cal Hampton Looks Like The Best New Side Character
Rocking a bucket hat and an alien-themed Hawaiian shirt, Cal Hampton is the newest Grand Theft Auto hacker. While Cal seems to be another guy-in-the-chair like Lester, he's a new take and could hopefully be a more lovable version of a basement dweller than Lester. Cal's personality is clearly that of a terminally online conspiracy theorist, who will most likely assist Jason and Lucia with more tech-oriented tasks.
Details about Cal can be found on the official Rockstar Games website, along with a variety of screenshots and details for a decent portion of the ing cast.
In his section on Rockstar’s site, Cal’s introduction is “What if everything on the internet was true?”, which tells players everything they need to know about his character in a few short words. A friend of Jason, Cal prefers to stay at home, “snooping on Coast Guard comms with a few beers and some private browser tabs open.” Described as casually paranoid, Cal is shown primarily at an alligator-themed mini-golf course, which may serve as his base of operations throughout the game.
Cal Hampton Is A Perfect Terminally Online Character For GTA 6
A New Internet Landscape Calls For A New Type Of Hacker
As a series, Grand Theft Auto has always satirized every part of American culture. Ridiculous billboards, posters, and radio commercials litter the city to provide a heightened, ridiculous version of the United States. Most side characters in GTA are a part of that satire, including Lester. When GTA 5 came out in 2013, internet culture wasn’t quite what it is nowadays, and Lester reflected that. He was a socially awkward, tech-savvy guy, but he wasn’t connected to the general internet culture because. While memes had evolved from rage comics and cats, the culture surrounding them wasn't what it is now.
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Nowadays, the internet is an entirely different landscape – though the cats are still here – and the required hacker character has to reflect it, as it’s an increasingly fundamental part of American culture. From what Rockstar has revealed, Cal Hampton will be an internet conspiracy theorist, the type that’s become more common in the last decade. Fringe theories have always existed, but recent years have increased the odds of running into a guy who would mod his own Discord server about lizard people running the government and harbor suspicions that the pigeon on his roof is datamining his conversations.
Cal’s hacking skills may come less from his interest in heisting and more from trying to uncover secrets from the U.S. government. His inclusion as a side character, the perfect type to reflect on current-day American culture, has made me incredibly excited for what other satire Rockstar has in store. The studio seems tapped into the modern landscape, which should promise biting societal commentary.
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What’s important about how Cal has been presented in pre-release materials is that he seems like a fun character. Hopefully Rockstar has moved away from Lester’s type of “intelligent jerk” personality, which became grating over time, to a more relaxed guy who wants to help his friends when they’re in over their heads for GTA 6. Cal looks like a fun new side character, even if he is the kind of guy who says “but what if it is true?” in response to everything he sees on the internet.
Source: Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto 6
- Released
- May 26, 2026
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Engine
- Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE)
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Prequel(s)
- Grand Theft Auto 5
