Games Workshop has thrilled Warhammer 40,000 fans by reviving the long-awaited animation, Astartes 2, with an awe-inspiring teaser trailer. However, there's a twist: none of the scenes shown in the teaser will appear in the final animation.
Astartes 2 is the eagerly anticipated sequel to the fan-made Astartes animation, originally crafted by Syama Pedersen. Widely regarded as the pinnacle of Warhammer 40,000 animations, it surpasses even official works, only potentially outdone by the recent Space Marine 2 animation from Amazon's Secret Level anthology series. The original Astartes was so impactful that it inspired Saber Interactive's successful Space Marine 2, leading Games Workshop to bring Syama Pedersen on board for the sequel.
After years of silence from Games Workshop, leaving many to speculate that Astartes 2 might have been canceled, the company surprised fans with a teaser trailer on January 29, 2025. The trailer promises an animation of unprecedented scale for Warhammer 40,000, featuring intense melee and shooting battles, vehicle combat, and epic spaceship confrontations. It showcases various Space Marine chapters battling across diverse landscapes 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
Despite the excitement generated by the teaser, Games Workshop clarified on their Warhammer Community website that the trailer does not feature actual clips from Astartes 2. Instead, it's a montage representing the past lives of characters who will appear in the show. The company hints at a major plot element at the trailer's end, encouraging fans to piece together the narrative themselves. Astartes 2 is set to launch exclusively on the subscription-based Warhammer+ platform in 2026.
While the teaser is visually stunning, the absence of a disclaimer stating its non-representative nature might lead to confusion among viewers. Many fans might mistakenly believe that the showcased scenes will be part of the final product, especially since not everyone will read the Warhammer Community post.
Nevertheless, the teaser has sparked excitement and speculation among the Warhammer community. The final image suggests that the characters may end up in an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad, adding to the intrigue surrounding the plot.
Meanwhile, fans of Space Marine 2 have expressed envy towards the Astartes 2 teaser, hoping elements like capes might find their way into the game. With ongoing updates from Saber Interactive, there's a possibility that the developers could draw further inspiration from Astartes, enhancing the gaming experience for Space Marine 2 enthusiasts.
