Activision Publishing is working on the next installment in its "Destiny" game series.

"Work has also begun on future expansion packs, as well as on our next full game release," the software house's CEO, Eric Hirshberg, told GameSpot.

The first and current "Destiny" version was released Sept. 9. The science-fiction multiplayer shooter enjoyed the most successful new gaming franchise launch of all time, according to maker Activision. Copies totaling a worth of more than $500 million had been shipped to retail stores upon its release.

Considering the game's success, the plan for a sequel "is not altogether surprising given the fact that Activision Publishing has regularly maintained that it has a 10-year vision for the Destiny franchise," Gamespot reports.

The announcement for the new development was made during Activision's latest earnings report, Geek detailed. According to the blog, the massive number of "Destiny" players "Destiny" makes a second game "inevitable."

"So far, 9.5 million users have been registered in 'Destiny,' [though] the player count will actually be lower than that due to the different profiles of a single player being registered as separate users," Geek said. "Even so, 'Destiny' has millions of players."

Details on the possible content of the second game are not available, Tom's Guide laments.

In the meantime, impatient players will have to resort to "The Dark Below," the first expansion pack for the original "Destiny," which will be released Dec. 9. The add-on costs $20 if purchased by itself and $35 as part of a season pass. The pack "adds new story content, a cooperative Strike mission, more competitive multiplayer maps and a new Raid, the latter of which requires six high-level players to conquer a series of increasingly difficult challenges," according to Tom's Guide.

According to Geek, the release of "The Dark Below" is a good sign for those "concerned that (the developer) could be moving its attention away from the first game so soon after launch." That is not the case, as "multiple expansion packs" are reportedly in the works.

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