While Egosoft has moved on to X4: Foundations, the X Rebirth modding community keeps tools like this alive. Version 1.10 is considered the "stable final edition" by its developer (user "Einstein" on the Egosoft forums). However, a community fork is exploring a version 1.11 that will include Steam Cloud save integration and a web-based export feature.
One of the most frustrating aspects of X Rebirth is that trade data ages out quickly. The new 1.10 update includes an "Auto-Refresh" toggle that, when combined with a current save, color-codes trade offers based on how recently they were updated in your game’s radar range.
Most players don’t realize that version 1.10 has an undocumented talent: creating minimal patches. When you repack a folder, the tool only writes files that have changed. This means mod authors can distribute a .cat file that is 10 MB instead of 500 MB, containing only the altered ship textures or script lines.
This efficiency is why the Civil War and Conquest & War overhaul mods for X Rebirth were possible. Their authors used 1.10 to inject thousands of small changes without corrupting the base game catalogs.
X Rebirth had a rocky launch, but its modding community thrived because of tools like the Catalog Tool 1.10. It transformed the game from a static experience into a living, malleable simulation. While Egosoft has since moved on to X4: Foundations, the lessons learned and tools refined during the Rebirth era—especially version 1.10—remain the gold standard for unpacking modern Egosoft games. X Rebirth Catalog Tool 1.10
So next time you install a mod that adds a new star system or completely rebalances the economy, pour one out for the humble command-line utility that made it possible. The X Rebirth Catalog Tool 1.10 doesn’t fly ships or fire weapons. It does something far more important: it sets the data free.
Where to find it: The tool is available on popular modding sites (like Nexus Mods) and the Egosoft forums. Look for the version specifically dated after the Home of Light DLC patch—that’s 1.10.
The X Rebirth Catalog Tool 1.10 is an official utility from Egosoft designed to manage .cat and .dat files for X Rebirth and X4: Foundations. Released in December 2016, version 1.10 notably added support for legacy catalog formats from earlier X series games. Core Features
Dual Interface: The tool operates as both a Windows command-line console (XRCatTool) and a graphical user interface (GUI) for ease of use. While Egosoft has moved on to X4: Foundations
Extraction & Creation: It allows players to unpack game files to view internal data (like XML scripts) or compile their own modified files back into catalogs for modding.
Multi-Game Support: While originally for X Rebirth, the tool is essential for modding X4: Foundations and supports all previous X titles as of version 1.10. How to Access and Use
Download Location: You can find it on the Egosoft Downloads page under X Rebirth -> Bonus Material.
Steam "X Tools": Steam users can also find it by navigating to the Tools section of their Steam Library, searching for X Tools, and installing it. Basic Workflow: Launch the GUI version of the tool. Where to find it: The tool is available
Use Import Catalogs and navigate to your game's installation folder.
Select the desired catalog file (e.g., 08.cat) to see its contents.
Select specific files and click Extract to save them to your drive for editing.
Note: Always read the included readme.txt file for specific usage details and command-line parameters. X Catalog Tool - X Community Wiki
Here’s a concise guide for the X Rebirth Catalog Tool 1.10 – a community-made asset browser for X Rebirth.
