APB Reloaded open beta goes live

By Fred Dutton Published 23 May, 2011

Sample resuscitated MMO now.

APB Reloaded's open beta finally launches today following a brief delay last week, adding a bevy of new features to the back-from-the-dead MMO shooter.

Available for download now from developer GamersFirst's website, the beta introduces a brand new skill rating system, redesigned "witnessing" game mechanics and a number new items.

Further improvements are also scheduled for later on in the test phase, including new clan-based combat mechanics aimed at higher level players, matchmaking improvements and new game modes.

"From the start of the development of APB Reloaded last Fall our focus has been to remove obstacles preventing players from having fun," explained CEO Bjorn Book-Larsson.

"While our development and design teams have done an amazing job improving driving, shooting, skill ratings, witnessing and other key elements of the game, I am also thrilled with the changes slated to be released during the latter part of open beta.

"We expect APB Reloaded to set a new bar for what is possible to achieve in a free to play MMO game, and the open beta represents another big step in that direction."

Originally developed by Crackdown studio Realtime Worlds, APB first launched back in July 2010. Reviews were middling and uptake was below expectations, leading to the studio's closure in August.

GamersFirst picked up the rights to the game in November 2010 and have spent the last few months making various gameplay tweaks and switching it over to a free-to-play business model.

Earlier this month it announced that the game's original creator, industry veteran David Jones, had signed on in an advisory role.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (11) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • rivuzu #1 1 year ago

    When? Their website is spares on details, or even how to download the client and register for the Open Beta. Further updates requested, EG!

    /sits with an itchy finger on the reload button, needing his APB fix.

  • uknortherner2000 #2 1 year ago

    Might give this a go, even if only to try out the much-vaunted character creator.

    @rivuzu: Apparently, the game's live now. Go to: http://www.gamersfirst.com/index.php?q=d... to get the general client, and register while you're at it. Then you can download APB within that client.
    Edited by uknortherner2000 at 23/05/11 @ 18:46

  • rivuzu #3 1 year ago

    @uknortherner2000

    Much appreciated!

  • Kervik #4 1 year ago

    Clocked about 80 hours on the Closed Beta so far, and actually, very little has changed from the original. Fortunately, they've got rid of a lot of the imbalances in the weapons and fixed the driving up quite a bit but there are still problems at its heart, like the fact that the missions are still "Press F and wait"-style things. If you enjoyed the original, go ahead and give this ago, if you didn't, they probably haven't renovated it enough to appease you.

  • Kafeen #5 1 year ago

    I tried to play the closed Beta but couldn't (I was invited to it).
    I started downloading it then paused it and tried to resume later.
    When I tried to resume it said "A file with the same name already exists in that folder".
    I should think so too, I'm trying to resume...
    "A file with the same name already exists in that folder"
    Okay, different folder.
    "A file with the same name already exists in that folder"
    Create a new empty folder.
    "A file with the same name already exists in that folder"
    Uninstall the client, re-download, install again.
    "A file with the same name already exists in that folder"

    Any ideas?

    I don't know which file exists in which folder. It doesn't like to give useful information like that.

  • Ryze #6 1 year ago

    Dick Jones! I work for Dick Jones!!!

    Unrelated, but... we really need a modern Robocop game.

  • mrboshingles #7 1 year ago

    Dick! You're Fired!

  • Jyan91 #8 1 year ago

    i was playing this earlier, the balance is only a tad better but, the guns are unbalanced. you can only buy them for 10 days, you must buy "premium" to keep customised t-shirts/cars etc also, you can buy cash shop guns but you don't keep those permanently either :(
    Edited by Jyan91 at 24/05/11 @ 12:47

  • Boomerang #9 1 year ago

    Jyan91:
    "you can only buy them for 10 days, you must buy "premium" to keep customised t-shirts/cars etc also, you can buy cash shop guns but you don't keep those permanently either"

    I think I speak for the majority of us when I say: We don't want this business model.

  • Marshall2008 #10 1 year ago

    Doomed to failure. The original was complete cack this will be shutdown and offline within 6 months guaranteed.

  • Jyan91 #11 1 year ago

    @Boomerang, i know mate, its even worse than it was before.