A Catalog Expansion Ship Module upgrade has appeared in Helldivers 2, but players are scratching their heads about what it could be. We aim to clear up some of the confusion!
Since its release, Helldivers 2 has stealth-dropped a variety of new gameplay features, Stratagems, and new enemy types before the devs ‘officially’ announced their arrival in-game. It’s a part of the Arrowhead Game Studios’ commitment to the game’s authoritarian and satirical tone. It’s a brilliant way to immerse players into the game’s lore, but it can often lead to confusion about what is actually happening. The new Catalog Expansion Ship Module upgrade is the most recent addition causing confusion, leading some to think it’s a cheeky teaser for things to come, while others more skeptically believe otherwise. We go into it below.
What Is the Catalog Expansion Ship Module in Helldivers 2?
The Catalog Expansion Ship Module appears to be an upgrade to your Destroyer Ship in Helldivers 2 that will give access to new Stratagems. This is according to its in-game description, which says it will bring “New Stratagem permits added to the ship management terminal for purchase.” However, players are unsure whether the Catalog Expansion was a mistake in the latest update, or simply a tease of what’s to come for the game.
The Catalog Expansion Ship Module first appeared in the Bridge of the Ship Module section of the Ship Management menu after the most recent update in Helldivers 2. Previously, you could only unlock three possible Ship Modules for the Bridge; the Catalog Expansion is the fourth Bridge upgrade to appear in the game. Unlike the previous Ship Modules, it isn’t clear exactly what it does as it doesn’t seem to have any affected Stratagems listed for it and its Upgrade Effect is incorrect. However, based on its description, we can gather that it has to do with new Stratagems that have yet to appear in Helldivers 2.
Although not confirmed, this is a pretty safe bet based on Arrowhead’s history of continually shadow-dropping new Stratagems at a moment’s notice. We know new Stratagems will be added, and the Catalog Expansion seems related. However, the exact nature of the Ship Module isn’t very clear. Previous upgrades for the Bridge improved the deployment of Orbital Strikes, increased enemy ping radius, and increased Hellpod drop maneuverability. The Catalog Expansion will likely offer similar gameplay advantages. Like all Ship upgrades, players should expect to spend a hefty amount of Samples, Rare Samples, and Super Samples to unlock it.
When Will the Catalog Expansion Release?
There is currently no official release date for the Catalog Expansion in Helldivers 2, though we expect it to arrive in a future update. It seems its appearance in the game was either a mistake or a cheeky hint at things to come from Arrowhead. In fact, one of the developers posted a cryptic on-brand message on Helldivers 2’s Discord server. This player pointed it out on Reddit:
In keeping with the game’s tone and lore, the developer refers to the Catalog Expansion as a “ROGUE ITEM.” According to the “Ministry of Truth,” this item is “temporarily visible,” and players are advised to “avoid this rogue item until further notice.” Although it’s great to see Arrowhead doubling down on the game’s lore in this way, it has led to confusion among players. Some believe it’s a hint of things to come, while others think it’s simply a mistake. It most likely confirms that new upgrades and Stratagems are on the horizon.
Either way, players have much to look forward to in Helldivers 2 with the upcoming Democratic Detonation Premium Warbond and the recent victory over the Automaton faction. For more on the game, be sure to head over to our Guide Hub.