Warhammer 40k Astartes 2 Returns with Stunning Teaser, But With a Twist

Games Workshop has thrilled Warhammer 40,000 fans by reviving the long-awaited animation, Astartes 2, with a stunning teaser trailer. The excitement among the community is palpable, yet there's an intriguing twist: none of the content shown in the teaser will be part of the final animation.

Astartes 2 is the sequel to the fan-favorite, Astartes, which was originally a fan-made project by Syama Pedersen. Widely regarded as the pinnacle of Warhammer 40,000 animations, it even surpassed the recent, highly acclaimed Space Marine 2 animation by Amazon for the Secret Level anthology series. The original Astartes was so influential that it inspired Saber Interactive's successful Space Marine 2 game, leading Games Workshop to bring Syama Pedersen on board to work on the sequel.

After years of silence from Games Workshop, leaving many to speculate that Astartes 2 had been quietly shelved, the unexpected release of the teaser trailer on January 29, 2025, reignited excitement within the community.

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

The teaser promises an animation of unprecedented scale and quality for Warhammer 40,000, featuring intense melee and ranged combat, vehicle battles, and epic spaceship engagements. It showcases various Space Marine chapters fighting in diverse settings against formidable foes like Tyranids, Orks, and Tau.

Despite the excitement, Games Workshop clarified on their Warhammer Community website that the teaser trailer does not contain any actual footage from Astartes 2. Instead, it's a compilation of scenes representing the past lives of the characters that will appear in the show. The post hinted at the final story's theme, encouraging fans to piece together the narrative themselves.

While the teaser is impressive, it's important to note that it does not represent the content of Astartes 2, which is set to launch exclusively on Games Workshop's Warhammer+ streaming service in 2026. The absence of a disclaimer on the trailer may lead to confusion among fans, who might expect to see the showcased elements in the final product.

The teaser's final image suggests that the characters may end up in an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad, sparking further speculation and excitement among fans. Meanwhile, Space Marine 2 enthusiasts are eyeing the Astartes 2 teaser with envy, hoping that some of its elements, like capes, might find their way into the game. With ongoing updates from Saber Interactive, there's an opportunity for the developers to draw inspiration from Astartes once more.