Games Workshop has resurrected the long-awaited Warhammer 40,000 animation, Astartes 2, with a stunning teaser trailer that has captivated fans. However, there's a crucial detail: none of the footage in the teaser will actually appear in the final animation.
Astartes 2 is the sequel to the fan-made original, Astartes, created by Syama Pedersen. Widely considered the pinnacle of Warhammer 40,000 animation (surpassed only perhaps by Amazon's recent Space Marine 2 short), its quality inspired Saber Interactive's hugely successful game, Space Marine 2, eventually leading Games Workshop to hire Pedersen for the sequel.
Years of silence surrounding Astartes 2 had fueled speculation of cancellation. Then, on January 29th, the teaser trailer dropped, thrilling 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 teaser showcases unprecedented scale and quality for a Warhammer 40,000 animation, featuring melee combat, ranged battles, vehicle warfare, and even spaceship clashes. Various Space Marine Chapters fight across diverse environments against Tyranids, Orks, and Tau.
While the teaser generates immense hype, Games Workshop's Warhammer Community website clarifies that it's not actual footage from Astartes 2. Instead:
“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 trailer's misleading nature, lacking a disclaimer, is likely to cause future disappointment. Fans seeing the teaser will naturally expect its content in Astartes 2, and many won't see the Warhammer Community post.
Despite this, the teaser fuels 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 some elements, perhaps even capes, might make their way into the game. Given Saber Interactive's continued updates, further inspiration from Astartes seems a real possibility.
