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 recent Space Marine 2 short, its impact is undeniable. Its success even inspired Saber Interactive's hugely popular Space Marine 2 game, leading Games Workshop to bring Pedersen onboard for the sequel.

After years of silence, the January 29th reveal of the teaser trailer was a welcome surprise. The trailer boasts an unprecedented scale and quality for a Warhammer 40,000 animation, featuring intense melee and ranged combat, vehicle warfare, and even epic spaceship battles. Various Space Marine chapters clash across diverse environments, facing off against 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 expertly builds hype, Games Workshop's Warhammer Community website clarifies 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. A subtle hint at the end suggests the overall narrative.

“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 lack of a disclaimer on the trailer itself is a potential issue, as fans might reasonably assume the depicted scenes will be in the final product. The Warhammer Community post won't be seen by everyone.

Despite this, the teaser sparks excitement and speculation. The final image hints at the characters' eventual roles in an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad.

Meanwhile, Space Marine 2 fans have expressed envy, hoping some elements from the Astartes 2 teaser might find their way into the game. The possibility of capes is already being discussed. With Saber Interactive continuing to update Space Marine 2, further inspiration from Astartes seems plausible.