Astartes 2 Returns with Stunning Teaser, Yet Faces a Catch

Games Workshop has thrilled fans by reviving the long-awaited Warhammer 40,000 animation, Astartes 2, with a stunning teaser trailer. However, there's a twist: none of the content shown in the teaser will actually 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 best Warhammer 40,000 animation ever produced, it surpasses even the highly acclaimed Space Marine 2 animation by Amazon for the Secret Level anthology series. The original Astartes was so impactful that it inspired Saber Interactive’s successful Space Marine 2 game, leading Games Workshop to hire Syama Pedersen to work on the sequel.

After years of silence, leaving fans to speculate if the project was cancelled, Games Workshop surprised everyone on January 29 with the release of a teaser trailer. This trailer, a visual treat for Warhammer 40,000 enthusiasts, showcased epic scenes of melee combat, shooting, vehicle battles, and spaceship engagements. It featured various Space Marine chapters battling across diverse landscapes and against multiple enemy factions, including 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, a post on the Warhammer Community website clarified that the teaser does not contain actual scenes from Astartes 2. Instead, it's a montage representing the past lives of characters who will appear in the series. The post hints at the story's direction, leaving fans to piece together the clues. The final scene suggests that the characters may end up in an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad.

While the teaser is impressive, the absence of a disclaimer might lead to confusion among fans who might expect to see the showcased scenes in Astartes 2. The animation is set to launch in 2026, exclusively on Games Workshop's Warhammer+ subscription service.

The teaser has sparked excitement and speculation among fans, with some hoping that elements from it might influence Saber Interactive’s Space Marine 2 game. As Saber continues to update the game, there's a call for the developers to draw inspiration from Astartes once again, with capes being a popular suggestion.