Catalogue Translation Expansion
If you play Minecraft in a language other than English, you have probably noticed that some mods simply do not speak your language. Catalogue, the popular mod browser menu by MrCrayfish, ships with a handful of official translations, but plenty of real-world languages are missing or only partially covered. That is exactly the gap that Catalogue Translation Expansion was built to fill. This unofficial localization companion expands and completes Catalogue's language support across multiple Minecraft versions and mod loaders, giving players a fully translated mod menu without touching the original mod's code.
What Does This Add-On Actually Do?
Catalogue Translation Expansion is a client-side resource project. It adds translation files for a large number of real-world languages that Minecraft already supports, so your mod list, category names, buttons and tooltips appear in your own language instead of falling back to English. Nothing gameplay-related is included: no blocks, items, mobs or mechanics. It only provides localization resources for Catalogue, which means it is safe to add or remove at any time.
A key design decision is that official Catalogue translations are preserved rather than overwritten. If MrCrayfish's team already provides a solid translation for your language, this project leaves it alone. New or corrected strings are only added where the original mod is missing coverage or where existing keys are incomplete. Formatting placeholders such as %s and all translation keys stay compatible with the original mod, so nothing breaks in the interface.
Language Coverage and Limitations
- Adds support for a large number of real-world languages available in Minecraft.
- Preserves official Catalogue translations instead of replacing them unnecessarily.
- Keeps translation keys and formatting placeholders fully compatible with the original mod.
- Reuses translations between versions only when the original English key and meaning are unchanged.
- Excludes novelty or fictional languages and most regional variants for now.
Because the project is honest about quality, some languages may temporarily keep the original English text if a reliable translation cannot yet be produced. That is intentional: the authors would rather show English than publish something inaccurate.
Supported Minecraft Versions and Mod Loaders
Compatibility is one of the strongest points of Catalogue Translation Expansion for Minecraft. The project covers multiple generations of Catalogue, starting from Minecraft 1.16.5 and continuing through the latest supported releases. Supported mod loaders include Forge, Fabric and NeoForge, although which loader you need depends on your specific Minecraft version and the Catalogue build you are running.
In practice, this means you should always match the translation file to both your game version and your loader. A Fabric build for 1.20 will not work on a NeoForge 1.21 instance, and older 1.16.5 packs use a different Catalogue generation entirely. Catalogue itself is required for this project to function, so install the main mod first and then add the matching translation file on top.
AI-Assisted Translations and Quality Checks
Some translations in this project are created or assisted using artificial intelligence, and the team is upfront about it. AI-generated strings are not dumped into the pack unchecked. Automated quality checks verify JSON validity, translation keys, formatting placeholders like %s, compatibility between different Catalogue versions, translation reuse between versions, and resource and mod metadata compatibility. Over time, community feedback and human corrections continue to improve the weaker entries.
How to Install Catalogue Translation Expansion
Installation follows the same routine as most resource-style add-ons. First, confirm which Minecraft version and loader you are using. Next, download Catalogue Translation Expansion from the project's official GitHub repository, choosing the file that matches your setup. Place the downloaded file in your mods or resourcepacks folder as instructed by the project documentation, then launch the game with Catalogue already installed. If your language still shows English in a few spots, that simply means those keys are pending a verified translation.
If you prefer a smoother route, the foxygame.net launcher can handle the whole process for you, offering one-click installation and automatic version matching so the correct build of Catalogue Translation Expansion lands in your instance without manual file hunting. The launcher's built-in add-on catalog also keeps an eye on updates, which is handy when new translations are merged.
An Open Source Community Project
Catalogue Translation Expansion is fully open source. The GitHub repository contains the translation files, compatibility information, version history, the build system and full project documentation. Corrections, improvements and new translation contributions are always welcome, and the project maintains a clear separation from the original mod: it is independent and unofficial, not affiliated with or endorsed by MrCrayfish, who created Catalogue.
For multilingual players, this add-on is a small but meaningful quality-of-life upgrade. It respects the work of the original developer, fills the gaps that official localization has not reached, and keeps everything compatible across Forge, Fabric and NeoForge from 1.16.5 onward. If you want your mod menu to finally speak your language, this is the companion to grab.