Warhammer 40,000 Animation Astartes 2 Returns With Stunning Teaser, But With a Twist

Games Workshop has thrilled the Warhammer 40,000 community by reviving the much-anticipated Astartes 2 with an awe-inspiring teaser trailer. This unexpected reveal has left fans buzzing with excitement, despite a significant twist: none of the content featured in the teaser will appear in the final animation.

Astartes 2 follows the footsteps of the original Astartes animation, crafted by the talented Syama Pedersen. Widely acclaimed as the pinnacle of Warhammer 40,000 animations, Astartes has been surpassed only by Amazon’s recent addition to the Secret Level anthology series, Space Marine 2. The original Astartes was so impressive that it not only inspired Saber Interactive’s successful Space Marine 2 but also led Games Workshop to bring Syama Pedersen on board to contribute to the sequel.

For years, there was silence surrounding Astartes 2, causing speculation about its cancellation. However, on January 29, 2025, Games Workshop surprised everyone with the teaser trailer release, delighting Warhammer 40,000 enthusiasts.

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 promises an unprecedented scale for Warhammer 40,000 animation, featuring intense melee combat, shooting, vehicle battles, and epic spaceship confrontations. It showcases various Space Marine chapters clashing across diverse settings and battling multiple enemy races such as Tyranids, Orks, and Tau. This has significantly heightened anticipation for Astartes 2.

However, fans should temper their expectations as the teaser content won't be part of the final animation, set to launch in 2026 exclusively on Games Workshop's Warhammer+ streaming service. According to a post on the Warhammer Community website, the trailer is a montage of scenes representing the past lives of the characters who will appear in the show, with a hint at the end suggesting their ultimate fate. The post encourages fans to piece together the narrative themselves.

The absence of a disclaimer in the trailer might lead to confusion among viewers, as many might assume the showcased scenes are part of Astartes 2. Despite this, the teaser has ignited speculation and excitement, with many believing the characters may end up in an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad, based on the final image.

The teaser has also caught the attention of Space Marine 2 fans, who are hoping that some elements, like the capes, might inspire updates to their game. As Saber Interactive continues to refine Space Marine 2, there's a growing call for the developers to draw inspiration from Astartes once more.