Long-Awaited Warhammer 40,000 Animation Astartes 2 Is Back From the Dead With Incredible Teaser Trailer — but There’s a Catch

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 twist: 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, created by Syama Pedersen. Widely considered the pinnacle of Warhammer 40,000 animation (surpassed only perhaps by Amazon's Space Marine 2 animation), its success even inspired Saber Interactive's popular game, Space Marine 2, leading Games Workshop to bring Pedersen in-house for the sequel.

Years of silence surrounding Astartes 2 fueled speculation of cancellation, until the surprise January 29th teaser trailer release. The trailer is a visual spectacle, showcasing unprecedented scale and quality for a Warhammer 40,000 animation. It features intense melee and ranged combat, vehicle warfare, and even spaceship battles, depicting various Space Marine chapters battling against Tyranids, Orks, and Tau across diverse environments.

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 expertly builds hype, Games Workshop clarified on the Warhammer Community website that none of the footage is from the actual animation. Instead, it's a compilation of scenes representing the past lives of characters who will appear in Astartes 2. The post hints at the overarching narrative, leaving fans to piece together the clues.

The lack of a disclaimer on the trailer might prove problematic, as viewers might reasonably assume the depicted scenes will be in the final product. Many won't see the Warhammer Community clarification.

Despite this, the teaser's impact is undeniable, sparking exciting speculation. The final image suggests the characters might converge in an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad.

Meanwhile, Space Marine 2 fans have expressed envy, hoping elements from the Astartes 2 teaser might find their way into the game—capes being a popular suggestion. With Saber Interactive continuing to update Space Marine 2, the possibility of further inspiration from Astartes remains.