Astartes 2 Returns with Stunning Teaser, but With a Catch

Games Workshop has thrilled fans of the Warhammer 40,000 universe by resurrecting the much-anticipated Astartes 2 animation with a stunning teaser trailer. However, there's a twist: none of the content shown in the teaser will actually feature in the final animation.

Astartes 2 is the official sequel to the critically acclaimed fan-made Astartes animation, which was originally crafted by Syama Pedersen. Widely regarded as the pinnacle of Warhammer 40,000 animations, it rivals even the exceptional Space Marine 2 animation from Amazon's Secret Level anthology series. The original Astartes was so influential that it inspired the development of Saber Interactive’s successful Space Marine 2, leading Games Workshop to bring Syama Pedersen on board to work on Astartes 2.

After years of silence, which led some to speculate that the project might have been canceled, Games Workshop surprised everyone on January 29, 2025, with the release of a teaser trailer. The trailer has been a visual feast for fans, showcasing an unprecedented scale of animation for the Warhammer 40,000 universe, featuring intense melee and shooting combat, vehicle battles, and even spaceship engagements. It includes various Space Marine chapters fighting across diverse landscapes against multiple enemy factions like 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

Despite the excitement the teaser generates, Games Workshop has clarified on their Warhammer Community website that the footage is not from the upcoming animation. Instead, it's a montage representing the past lives of characters who will appear in the show. They've hinted at the storyline's nature at the trailer's end, encouraging fans to piece together the narrative themselves.

This revelation might disappoint some fans, as the lack of a disclaimer on the trailer could lead to misconceptions about what to expect from Astartes 2. Many might not see the clarification on the Warhammer Community site, leading to potential confusion.

Nevertheless, the teaser has sparked excitement and speculation among the fanbase. The final shot hints that the characters might end up in an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad, although the exact details remain a mystery.

Fans of Space Marine 2 have expressed envy and hope that elements from the Astartes 2 teaser could influence future updates to their game. With Saber Interactive continually enhancing Space Marine 2, there's an opportunity for them to draw further inspiration from the Astartes series.

Astartes 2 is set to premiere in 2026, exclusively on Games Workshop's subscription-based Warhammer+ streaming service.