Games Workshop has thrilled Warhammer 40,000 fans by reviving the highly anticipated Astartes 2 animation with a stunning teaser trailer. However, there’s an intriguing twist: none of the content in the teaser will appear in the final animation.
Astartes 2 is the eagerly awaited sequel to the fan-made Astartes animation, crafted by the talented Syama Pedersen. Widely regarded as the pinnacle of Warhammer 40,000 animations, it surpassed even official works and was perhaps only outdone by Amazon's recent and excellent Space Marine 2 animation from the Secret Level anthology series. The original Astartes was so impactful that it influenced Saber Interactive's successful Space Marine 2, leading Games Workshop to bring Syama Pedersen on board for the sequel.
Despite years of silence from Games Workshop, causing fans to speculate about its cancellation, the company surprised everyone with the release of the teaser trailer on January 29, 2025. The trailer promises an unprecedented scale of animation for Warhammer 40,000, featuring intense melee and shooting sequences, vehicle combat, and even spaceship battles. It showcases various Space Marine chapters in diverse environments, battling against multiple enemy races such as Tyranids, Orks, and Tau.
It's not even February yet and the Ws for 2025 won't stop coming! Astartes is back, Brothers! pic.twitter.com/sYhu5LjwiC
— Champions of the Ice (@ChampionsOTIce2) January 29, 2025
While the teaser trailer has generated significant excitement, it's important to note that it doesn't feature any actual scenes from Astartes 2. According to a post on the Warhammer Community website, the trailer is a compilation of shots representing the past lives of characters who will appear in the show. The post hints at the storyline's nature, encouraging fans to piece together the clues:
“This teaser trailer is not actually clips from the new animation, instead showing a compilation of shots that represent the former lives of the characters that will appear in the show. There’s a pretty unsubtle hint at the end as to the nature of the final story...We’ll leave you to speculate and start putting the pieces together yourselves.”
The lack of a disclaimer on the trailer might lead to some confusion among fans, who might expect to see the showcased action in Astartes 2. The animation is set to launch in 2026 exclusively on Games Workshop's subscription-only Warhammer+ streamer.
Despite this, fans are buzzing with excitement and speculation. The final image in the trailer suggests that the characters may end up in an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad, but the full story remains a mystery for now.
Meanwhile, fans of Space Marine 2 are expressing envy and hope that some elements from the Astartes 2 teaser might influence future updates to their game. With Saber Interactive continuing to develop Space Marine 2, there's a possibility for new inspirations from Astartes to enhance the gaming experience.
