Borderlands 3’s Ship Sanctuary Is the Perfect Social Hub With Some Interesting Mass Effect Vibes

Maybe I'm just a giant fangirl, but Borderland's 3 had some subtle Mass Effect Omega vibes going on.

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Gearbox revealed a first-ever look at Borderlands 3 gameplay this week and we were there to celebrate with the team and check out the title for ourselves. One of the interesting features in the upcoming title is the very-much upgraded Sanctuary 3 that acts as a customizable hub for social interactions as well as interstellar travel. It also has a distinct Mass Effect feel, which I’ll get into here in a little bit.

During the gameplay demonstration, Randy Pitchford and the team revealed how Sanctuary works and all of the faces players will see when exploring. Our Vault Hunters also get their very own private quarters, an area that players can customize even more with weapon trophies and other small personal touches. 

Players can buy weapons, recover lost items, even play the slot machines (though be careful, sometimes you don’t win – you get blown up) – Sanctuary is definitely much more than it has been in the past, and the decision to make it an actual ship that can take players from planet to planet makes it even better. 

But Liana, you said it’s like Mass Effect? Are you stupid? Thank you, kind reader, glad you semi-asked! When Pitchford was taking us on a tour of Sanctuary, he took us through various areas of the ship both above deck, and below. There were so many parts of Sanctuary that looked straight out of Omega, a place we first explored in Mass Effect 2 lead by Aria (remember the number one rule? Good, because I can’t repeat it for its F-bomb). There was one moment in particular where our Vault Hunter was walking past red-blazened pipes with stark neon lighting and bar-like signs that just had me screaming: OMEGA, IT’S OMEGA! 

Granted there was no actual screaming because that would be weird, but my head was very noisy. 

Maybe not everyone will feel the same about the Mass Effect connection, but one thing we can agree on is that Sanctuary looks absolutely amazing. Funny dialogue, the ability to get our inventory in order, travel – Sanctuary is bringing the business alongside a title that promises to be the biggest adventure yet for the franchise. 

As for the game itself, Borderlands 3 is slated for an Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC launch on September 13th. 


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Author
Liana Ruppert
With an arguably unhealthy obsession with Dragon Age and Mass Effect, Liana is wildly passionate about all things in the gaming community. From shooters, to RPGs, if it's out - she's playing it. A medically retired US Sailor and now full-time hoarder of gaming collectibles, Liana's passion for everything in the gaming industry is palpable. Also, if you lose her in a crowd, just casually mention any BioWare game and the crazy pterodactyl screech will without a doubt follow. You can follow her on Twitter @DirtyEffinHippy or email her for editorial inquiries at [email protected]!