Games Workshop's highly anticipated Warhammer 40,000 animation, Astartes 2, has resurfaced with a stunning teaser trailer, captivating fans. However, a crucial detail emerges: the trailer showcases scenes not featured in the actual animation.
Astartes 2, a sequel to the acclaimed fan-made original by Syama Pedersen, is considered a landmark in Warhammer 40,000 animation. Its predecessor's success even influenced Saber Interactive's Space Marine 2. Games Workshop subsequently hired Pedersen to create the sequel.
After years of silence, the teaser trailer dropped on January 29th, 2025, generating considerable excitement. The trailer boasts breathtaking visuals, depicting intense melee combat, ranged firefights, vehicle warfare, and even space battles, showcasing various Space Marine chapters against diverse enemies like 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
Despite the hype, Games Workshop's Warhammer Community website revealed a twist: the trailer's content is not from the animation itself. Instead, it depicts scenes representing the characters' past lives, hinting at the final storyline.
“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 is a potential issue, as viewers might mistakenly assume the footage will be in the final product. The final image suggests the characters will form an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad.
The teaser has already sparked envy among Space Marine 2 fans, who hope some elements, particularly the capes, might be incorporated into the game. With Saber Interactive continuing to update Space Marine 2, further inspiration from Astartes remains a possibility. Astartes 2 is slated for release in 2026 exclusively on Games Workshop's Warhammer+ streaming service.
