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 sequel to the fan-made original Astartes animation, created by Syama Pedersen, widely considered the best Warhammer 40,000 animation ever made. Its success even inspired Saber Interactive's Space Marine 2, leading Games Workshop to bring Pedersen on board for the sequel.
After years of silence, the January 29th teaser trailer release surprised fans. The trailer boasts breathtaking visuals, showcasing melee combat, ranged firefights, vehicle battles, and even spaceship engagements. 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 trailer expertly builds hype, Games Workshop's Warhammer Community website reveals a crucial detail: "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 trailer's lack of a disclaimer might cause confusion, leading viewers to expect the showcased scenes in the final product. The absence of such a clarification on the trailer itself could prove problematic.
Despite this revelation, the teaser fuels speculation. The final image hints at the characters' eventual roles in an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad.
Meanwhile, Space Marine 2 fans have expressed their envy, hoping some elements from the Astartes 2 teaser, such as capes, might find their way into the game. With Saber Interactive continuing to update Space Marine 2, the possibility of further inspiration from Astartes remains.
