Activision Blizzard and Bungie have just released impressive statistics showing how the blockbuster first-person shooter MMO continues to drive traction and gain solid followers around the world.

"Right now, at this exact moment, 12,869,066 players have picked up a controller and taken Destiny for a spin," the latest Bungie update mentioned. These nearly 13 million users have crafted 23 million Guardians.

"They have sparked 22,932,276 Guardians to life. Together, they have spent 872,404,449 hours battling the aliens that want to turn them into dust."

There are over 500 developers who are continuously working on Destiny to ensure that the world inhabited by the players will never cease to evolve and surprise.

The big-budgeted Destiny has so far delivered above and beyond Activision Blizzard's expectations. It went on to top the charts for consecutive weeks. The title was exclusively launched via PlayStation platforms.

"To date, 2014 has been a series of number ones for Activision Publishing: Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is the #1 top-selling game of the year, Skylanders is the #1 kids video game franchise of the year, and Destiny is the #1 top-selling new video game franchise of the year," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO, Activision Publishing, Inc.

Activision Blizzard is the big winner in the top console selling title and video game franchises of the year.

The studios have also recently released Destiny Expansion I: The Dark Below. This update brings forth new loots, weapons, armors, increases, story missions and quests, cooperative strike and six-player Fire Team.

Meanwhile, Bungie announced that the next big update will happen in January 2015, and that gamers will be able to see "some stuff you've been asking for."