Warhammer 40,000: Astartes 2 Teaser Released

Games Workshop has resurrected the long-awaited Warhammer 40,000 animation, Astartes 2, with a stunning teaser trailer that has ignited fan excitement. However, there's a crucial detail: the trailer showcases scenes that won't actually appear in the final animation.

Astartes 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to the fan-made original, Astartes, created by Syama Pedersen. Widely considered the pinnacle of Warhammer 40,000 animation (rivaled only perhaps by Amazon's Space Marine 2 animation), its impact is undeniable. Astartes' success even inspired Saber Interactive's popular Space Marine 2 game, leading Games Workshop to bring Pedersen on board for the sequel.

Years of silence surrounding Astartes 2 fueled speculation of cancellation. Then, on January 29th, the teaser trailer dropped, captivating Warhammer 40,000 fans.

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 trailer boasts unprecedented scale and quality, showcasing melee combat, ranged firefights, vehicle battles, and even space combat. Various Space Marine chapters clash across diverse environments, facing off against Tyranids, Orks, and Tau.

While the teaser expertly builds anticipation for Astartes 2, Games Workshop clarified on the Warhammer Community website that none of the footage is from the actual animation:

“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.”

Although visually impressive, the teaser's misleading nature is a concern. The lack of a disclaimer might lead viewers to expect the depicted scenes in the final product, especially those who don't see the Warhammer Community post.

Despite this, the teaser sparks exciting speculation. The final image hints at the characters forming an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad.

Meanwhile, Space Marine 2 fans are already expressing envy, hoping elements from the Astartes 2 teaser might find their way into the game—capes being a popular suggestion. With ongoing updates to Space Marine 2, perhaps Saber Interactive will once again draw inspiration from the Astartes universe.