Games Workshop has thrilled Warhammer 40,000 fans by reviving the long-awaited Astartes 2 animation with an incredible 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, crafted by the talented Syama Pedersen. Widely hailed as the best Warhammer 40,000 animation to date, it outshines even official works, with the exception perhaps of Amazon's stellar Space Marine 2 animation for the Secret Level anthology series. The original Astartes was so impactful that it inspired the development of Saber Interactive's successful Space Marine 2, leading Games Workshop to bring Syama on board to work on this sequel.
Despite years of silence from Games Workshop, leaving fans to speculate about its fate, the surprise unveiling of the teaser trailer on January 29, 2025, has reignited excitement. The trailer promises an animation of unprecedented scale for Warhammer 40,000, featuring stunning melee and ranged combat, vehicle battles, and even spaceship engagements. It showcases various Space Marine chapters in action across diverse settings, battling 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
While the teaser builds anticipation for Astartes 2, it's important to note that it won't feature in the final product set to launch in 2026 exclusively on Games Workshop's Warhammer+ subscription service. According to a post on the Warhammer Community website, the trailer is a montage representing the past lives of characters who will appear in the show. The post also teases a significant hint at the end of the trailer about the story's direction, encouraging fans to piece together the narrative themselves.
This revelation may disappoint some fans who might expect the teaser's content to be part of Astartes 2, especially since the trailer lacks a disclaimer. Nonetheless, the excitement and speculation among the community are palpable. The final image suggests that the characters might end up in an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad, adding to the intrigue.
The Astartes 2 teaser has also caught the attention of Space Marine 2 enthusiasts, who are hoping to see some of its elements incorporated into their game. With ongoing updates from Saber Interactive, there's a possibility for cross-pollination of ideas, perhaps even bringing elements like capes into Space Marine 2.
