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, resurfaces 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 Syama Pedersen's acclaimed fan-made original, is considered a landmark in Warhammer 40,000 animation, rivaled only by Amazon's Space Marine 2 short. Its impact is undeniable, inspiring Saber Interactive's successful Space Marine 2 game, and leading Games Workshop to recruit Pedersen for the sequel.

Years of silence surrounding Astartes 2 fueled cancellation rumors, but the January 29th teaser trailer announcement surprised fans. The trailer boasts breathtaking visuals, showcasing intense melee combat, ranged firefights, vehicle warfare, and even space battles, featuring various Space Marine Chapters and enemy races like Tyranids, Orks, and Tau.

The excitement is palpable, but Games Workshop's Warhammer Community post reveals a twist: the trailer's content is not from the animation itself. Instead, it depicts "the former lives of the characters that will appear in the show," with a subtle hint at the final storyline. This lack of a clear disclaimer in the trailer itself is likely to cause confusion and disappointment among viewers who may not see the clarifying community post.

While the teaser is visually impressive, it offers no actual glimpse of Astartes 2, slated for a 2026 release exclusively on the Warhammer+ streaming service. Speculation abounds, with the final image suggesting the characters might form an Inquisition-led Deathwatch Terminator squad.

The teaser's impact is already evident, with Space Marine 2 fans expressing envy and hoping for some of its elements, particularly the capes, to be incorporated into the game. Given Saber Interactive's ongoing updates, this cross-pollination of inspiration seems entirely possible.