Long-Awaited Warhammer 40,000 Animation Astartes 2 Is Back From the Dead With Incredible Teaser Trailer — but There’s a Catch

Games Workshop's highly anticipated Warhammer 40,000 animation, Astartes 2, has resurfaced with a stunning teaser trailer, captivating fans of the franchise. However, a crucial detail emerges: none of the footage in the teaser will actually appear in the final animation.

Astartes 2 serves as a sequel to the acclaimed fan-made original, created by Syama Pedersen. Widely considered the pinnacle of Warhammer 40,000 animation, it's only rivaled by Amazon's recent Space Marine 2 animation. The original Astartes' success even inspired Saber Interactive's popular Space Marine 2 video game, leading Games Workshop to bring Pedersen onboard for the sequel.

After years of silence, the January 29th release of the teaser trailer generated significant excitement. The trailer showcases breathtaking visuals, featuring melee combat, ranged firefights, vehicle engagements, and even space battles. Various Space Marine chapters clash across diverse environments, facing off against Tyranids, Orks, and Tau.

Despite the hype, Games Workshop clarified on their Warhammer Community website that the teaser is not actual footage from Astartes 2. Instead, it's a compilation of scenes depicting the characters' past lives, with a subtle hint at the final storyline. The lack of a disclaimer on the trailer itself is likely to cause confusion among viewers.

While the teaser is visually impressive, it offers no concrete glimpse of the actual animation. The final image suggests the characters may converge into an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad, sparking speculation among fans.

The Astartes 2 teaser has already ignited interest from Space Marine 2 players, who are hoping some elements, perhaps even the stylish capes, might find their way into the game. Given Saber Interactive's ongoing updates, this cross-inspiration isn't entirely improbable. The wait for Astartes 2 continues, with its exclusive release on the Warhammer+ streaming service slated for 2026.