Games Workshop's highly anticipated Warhammer 40,000 animation, Astartes 2, resurfaces with a stunning teaser trailer, captivating fans. However, a crucial detail emerges: the trailer showcases footage not included in the actual animation.
Astartes 2, a sequel to the acclaimed fan-made original by Syama Pedersen, is considered a landmark achievement in Warhammer 40,000 animation. Its impact is undeniable, even inspiring Saber Interactive's successful Space Marine 2. Games Workshop subsequently hired Pedersen to helm the sequel.
After years of silence, the teaser trailer dropped on January 29th, 2025, generating significant excitement. The trailer boasts unprecedented scale and visual fidelity, depicting intense melee combat, ranged firefights, vehicle warfare, and epic spaceship battles. Various Space Marine chapters clash across diverse environments, facing off against Tyranids, Orks, and Tau.
Despite the impressive visuals, Games Workshop clarified on the Warhammer Community website that the teaser is not comprised of actual footage from Astartes 2. Instead, it's a montage representing the past experiences of characters featured in the upcoming animation. A subtle clue at the trailer's end hints at the overarching narrative.
The lack of a disclaimer on the trailer itself is a potential issue, as many viewers will likely assume the depicted scenes will appear in the final product. This discrepancy could lead to disappointment when Astartes 2, launching exclusively on the Warhammer+ streaming service in 2026, deviates from the teaser's content.
Speculation is rife, with many believing the trailer's characters ultimately join an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad. This interpretation stems from the trailer's concluding image.
The Astartes 2 teaser has already sparked envy among Space Marine 2 players, who hope to see some of the trailer's elements, particularly the capes, integrated into the game. Given Saber Interactive's ongoing updates to Space Marine 2, this crossover remains a possibility. The anticipation remains high, even with the revelation that the teaser is not representative of the final animation.
