- Mirror's Edge Catalyst Kate refers to Kate Connors, Faith's sister from the 2008 original — she does not appear in the 2016 reboot.
- Catalyst is an origin-story reboot, rewriting Faith's early years in the city of Glass.
- The reboot replaces the sister dynamic with Noah, Icarus, and the Kruger family storyline.
- Faith's parents and the November Riots remain central to her backstory in both versions.
Who Is Kate in Mirror's Edge?
Kate Connors is Faith's younger sister and one of the most important characters in the original Mirror's Edge (2008). In that game, Kate works as a police officer and is framed for the murder of mayoral candidate Robert Pope, which drives the entire plot as Faith races across the city to clear her name.
In Mirror's Edge Catalyst, however, Kate does not exist in the story. Catalyst is a full reboot rather than a sequel, retelling Faith's origins in the corporate-controlled city of Glass. Because the timeline restarts with Faith as a young runner fresh out of juvenile detention, the sibling relationship that anchored the first game's narrative was set aside entirely.
Many players search for Kate in Catalyst expecting a mission or boss fight. She has no missions, no collectibles, and no story appearances in the reboot — any guide claiming otherwise is describing the 2008 original.
The table below breaks down how the two games handle Faith's closest relationships:
| Character | 2008 Original | Catalyst (2016 Reboot) |
|---|---|---|
| Kate Connors | Faith's sister, framed cop, main plot driver | Not present |
| Mercury | Faith's mentor | Replaced by Noah Kekai |
| Celeste | Fellow runner, conflicted ally | Replaced by Icarus and the runner cabal |
| Faith's parents | Backstory only, riots referenced | Expanded backstory tied to the November Riots |
| Antagonist force | City government conspiracy | Kruger family and K-Sec |
Why Catalyst Removed Kate: The Reboot Explained
Mirror's Edge Catalyst was announced as a reboot of the franchise, giving DICE a clean slate to rebuild Faith's world. The official EA game page describes Catalyst as an origin story: Faith returns to Glass after juvenile detention and rejoins the Runners under Noah's guidance.
Several creative goals explain the change:
- New origin arc: The story focuses on how Faith becomes a runner, before the events where Kate would factor in.
- Open-world structure: The free-roam city of Glass needed a supporting cast tied to districts and factions — Noah's cabal, Black November, and KrugerSec — rather than a single rescue-the-sister plotline.
- Fresh antagonist family: The Kruger family (Gabriel and Isabel Kruger) replaces the political conspiracy of the original, with the Reflection project at the heart of the plot.
If you loved the Faith-and-Kate dynamic, play the 2008 original first. Catalyst's story stands alone, but the reboot's November Riots backstory directly mirrors the "November" themes that killed Faith's parents in the first game's lore.
2008 Mirror's Edge
- Linear story campaign
- Kate framing drives the plot
- Mercury as mentor
Catalyst Reboot
- Open-world Glass
- Origin story for Faith
- Mag Rope and gadgets
Shared Lore
- Faith Connors as protagonist
- Runner courier network
- Surveillance-state city themes
Faith's Family Backstory in Catalyst
While Kate is absent, family remains the emotional core of Catalyst's narrative. Faith's past is defined by three pillars that the reboot explores through main missions and collectible documents.
The November Riots
Faith's parents died during the civil unrest known as the November Riots, an event the Conglomerate buried in sanitized history. Hidden documents found across Glass piece together the truth.
Gabriel Kruger's Connection
The head of Kruger Security is personally entangled with Faith's family history, making the final confrontation atop the Shard as personal as the original's Kate rescue.
The Reflection Project
Isabel Kruger's connection to the Reflection project ties the corporate plot back to Faith's own secrets, giving the reboot its own family-driven mystery in place of Kate's framing.
Collect hidden documents during main missions — especially Chapters 3 through 6 — and explore the Undermine district to unlock Black November records about the riots.
Catalyst Character Guide: The Cast That Replaced Kate
Understanding who does populate Catalyst's story helps 2008 veterans map the reboot's new emotional anchors.
| Character | Role | Story Function |
|---|---|---|
| Faith Connors | Protagonist | Reckless courier grows into a symbol of resistance |
| Noah Kekai | Mentor | Veteran runner leader; pays a heavy price protecting Faith |
| Icarus | Fellow runner | Rival-turned-ally within the cabal |
| Rebecca Thane | Black November leader | Radical resistance figure in the Undermine |
| Gabriel Kruger | Main antagonist | K-Sec chief tied to Faith's family past |
| Isabel Kruger | Key antagonist | Linked to the Reflection project |
Story Beats to Experience in Catalyst:
- Escape the Kruger Holding Facility in Chapter 1
- Meet Rebecca Thane in the Undermine
- Uncover the Reflection project in the Kruger tower
- Complete the Gabriel Kruger rooftop chase
- Collect family-lore documents across Glass districts
FAQ
Q: Is Kate in Mirror's Edge Catalyst?
No. Kate Connors does not appear in Catalyst. The 2016 game is a reboot that retells Faith's origin in the city of Glass, replacing the 2008 story where Kate's framing drove the plot.
Q: Does Mirror's Edge Catalyst follow the first game's story?
No. Catalyst is a full reboot, not a sequel. It shares Faith, the Runners, and surveillance-state themes, but rewrites her backstory with new characters like Noah, Icarus, and the Kruger family.
Q: Why did the reboot remove Faith's sister?
Catalyst focuses on Faith's early years before she became an established runner. The open-world structure needed a faction-driven cast, so the sibling storyline from the original was set aside in favor of the Reflection project plot.
Q: Will Kate ever return to the series?
There is no official confirmation. EA has not announced a follow-up to Catalyst, so any return of Kate Connors remains speculation within the community at Reddit's r/mirrorsedge.