With Apex Legends’ 15th season, Eclipse, mere days away now, developer Respawn is finally ready to discuss Catalyst, the free-to-play battle royale game’s newest hero, in more detail, breaking down the abilities she’ll bring to the latest round of the Apex Games.
Speaking at a recent press briefing, Respawn explained the starting point for Catalyst’s aesthetic was “techno witch”, with her final design aiming to represent both stylishness – in her emo goth vibes – and technological practicality. She is, after all, a member of a terraforming crew hired to help restore the moon of Cleo – which, as Season 15 begins, has been turned in an Apex Games arena, something Catalyst won’t stand for.
Described as an “elegant and standoffish woman who likes crystals more than she likes people”, Catalyst is Apex Legends’ first trans character – voiced by trans actor Meli Grant – and, as Respawn succinctly puts it, simply reflects the fact the “real world is a diverse place”.
When fans finally get a chance to play as Catalyst come the arrival of Season 15, they’ll be able to take advantage of her ferrofluid manipulating abilities – which let her control the substance in her backpack with a magnetic field using the conductors in gloves. In real terms, these abilities are said to be similar to other defensive Legends and should prove particularly appealing to players that enjoy mid- to long-range fights.