Review: Is APB Reloaded Worth Playing?

Game Overview.

Toxic Community.

I have a pretty thick skin regarding in-game toxicity, but even I was surprised by the sheer concentration of negativity that flows through the in-game chat.

During the span of just a few minutes, I witnessed the following:

• Four racist slurs.
• Two ableist slurs.
• Eight instances of harsh profanity.
• Five instances of new player bullying.

The rest of the messages were in Russian and Chinese, so I could not decipher them; however, it is entirely possible those messages were also toxic.

In addition, after being automatically matched with another player (as an enforcer/cop), I watched in dismay as my partner proceeded to run down every civilian he saw before finally running me over deliberately.

While I am sure not all of the APB Reloaded player base is toxic, from what I have seen, the non-toxic players do little to combat the overwhelming negativity within the community, giving a new player the impression that APB Reloaded is a game populated by trolls and psychopaths.

Custom Music.

While MIDI files are not the most pleasing way to enjoy music, being able to compose your own tracks and perform them for others is always a welcome feature.

This system is not unique to APB Reloaded, as other titles such as The Lord of the Rings Online have a thriving MIDI scene. However, its inclusion here is a nice reminder of a more innocent time before every streamer was petrified that their Tupac ringtone might cause them to be demonetised.

Open World PvP.

Enforcers and criminals have different objectives, as expected, with Enforcers being alerted to ongoing criminal activity and Criminals being warned of police raids, bounties, and similar events.

While it is a simple system, it drives open-world PvP, ensuring that players who wish to progress continually engage with both factions.

In many ways, this system has helped APB Reloaded survive to see its 11th birthday despite its niche status.

Character Customisation.

Players are given a massive range of customisation options considering APB Reloaded’s age, including the ability to design custom tattoos and choose from a range of body types.

Unfortunately, the “bulky” body type, while available to both male and female character models, is highly sexist. An average-build female is deemed “bulky,” while the bulky preset for male characters is closer to clinical obesity.

Sexism.

There is nothing wrong with sexy female characters; I know many women who enjoy dressing attractively in an MMO. However, I know an even larger group of players who would rather dress modestly. Unfortunately, sex sells, and the developers know it, with almost every featured female NPC wearing ridiculously sexualised clothing,including, but not limited to, thigh-high boots, bikini bottoms, and revealing tops that show ample cleavage and side exposure.

The objectification of female characters extends to the marketing, where male characters are often fully clothed while female characters (including police officers) look more like scantily clad cosplayers or OnlyFans models.

As a result, APB Reloaded continues to attract the wrong type of audience, and the community is overrun by angsty teenage boys and adults who shudder at the idea of female characters dressing or behaving as anything other than eye candy.

While some may dismiss this as a non-issue, I feel strongly that creating content purely to titillate is wrong. While there is a time and place for nudity in games, making every female character eye candy is offensive,and for those who are prone to acting on lust, potentially dangerous.

Acquisition.

APB (All Points Bulletin) originally launched in July 2010, only to close a mere two months later in September when its publisher, Realtime Worlds, went into administration. The failed title was then purchased by K2 Network for a paltry $1.5 million and re-released the following year as APB Reloaded.

APB Reloaded FAQ

APB Reloaded is a free-to-play first person shooter game developed by Reloaded Productions and published by K2 Network, it released on 7 December 2011, and is available on PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

While the developers have been teasing a major update for over four years and have held occasional beta tests, as we enter 2025 there has been next to no progress since the release of the 2021 roadmap.

Is Cross-Platform Multiplayer Supported?

APB Reloaded supports:

• ☑ Cross-Generational Multiplayer
• ☑ Cross-Generational Parties

Is There Group Finding/Matchmaking Support?

APB Reloaded offers the following matchmaking options:

• ☑ Solo Matchmaking
• ☑ Group Matchmaking
• ☑ Server Browser

Are There In-Game Microtransactions?

The APB Reloaded in-game store sells:

• ☑ Cosmetic Items
• ☑ Cosmetic Item Bundles
• ☑ Premium Currency Bundles
• ☑ Premium Battlepass
• ☑ Starter Packs
• ☑ Pay for Convenience Items
• ☑ Pay-2-Win Items

What Peripherals Are Supported?

APB Reloaded supports the following peripherals:

• ☑ Console - Controller
• ☑ PC - Mouse and Keyboard

Is There Any Mature Content?

APB Reloaded is rated PEGI 16+ and contains:

• ☑ Bad Language
• ☑ Discrimination
• ☑ Drug Use
• ☑ Mature Themes
• ☑ Partial Nudity
• ☑ Sexual Content
• ☑ Violence

Final Verdict.

APB Reloaded is not a bad game, and for those who do not wish or are unable to play Grand Theft Auto Online, APB Reloaded is a decent free-to-play alternative. However, the visuals and gameplay mechanics are dated, and the developers have historically struggled to release meaningful content updates in a timely manner.

Is APB Reloaded Worth Playing?

We found APB Reloaded to be a poor game, meaning that while it has some redeeming qualities, it's ultimately disappointing and not recommended for most gamers.