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 thrilled Warhammer 40,000 fans by resurrecting the long-awaited Astartes 2 animation with a stunning teaser trailer. However, there's a twist: none of the content shown in the teaser will 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 acclaimed as the best Warhammer 40,000 animation to date—surpassed only perhaps by Amazon's recent and exceptional Space Marine 2 animation from the Secret Level anthology series—Astartes inspired Saber Interactive’s successful Space Marine 2. Games Workshop later brought Syama on board to contribute to the sequel.

After years of silence, leading some to speculate that Astartes 2 had been quietly shelved, Games Workshop surprised fans on January 29, 2025, with a teaser trailer that has set the Warhammer 40,000 community abuzz.

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 animation of unprecedented scale and quality for Warhammer 40,000, featuring intense melee combat, shooting, vehicle battles, and even spaceship engagements. It showcases various Space Marine chapters fighting across diverse settings against multiple enemy factions, including Tyranids, Orks, and Tau.

While the teaser ramps up excitement for Astartes 2, it's important to note that none of its content will feature in the animation set to launch in 2026 exclusively on Games Workshop's subscription-based Warhammer+ platform. According to a statement on the Warhammer Community website, the teaser is a montage of scenes depicting the past lives of characters who will appear in the show, with a cryptic hint at the end about the story's direction. Fans are encouraged to speculate and piece together the narrative puzzle themselves.

Despite the teaser's allure, the absence of a disclaimer might lead to confusion among viewers who expect to see the showcased content in Astartes 2. Many may miss the clarification on the Warhammer Community post.

Nevertheless, the teaser sparks excitement and speculation among fans. The final image suggests the characters might join an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad, though this remains open to interpretation.

Meanwhile, fans of Space Marine 2 are eyeing the Astartes 2 teaser with envy, hoping some elements might cross over to their game. With ongoing updates, Saber Interactive could draw inspiration from Astartes once more, with capes being an early suggestion.