Destiny is shaping up to be the biggest game of the year, and it's not hard to see why. More than 4.6 million people participated in the game's beta test from August, and Destiny currently holds the record for the most pre-ordered new intellectual property in video game history.

Sony has treated Destiny like a PlayStation 4 exclusive, featuring the game heavily in marketing campaigns, snagging exclusive content and even bundling the game with a sexy and exclusive white PS4, something Microsoft is less than thrilled about.

Activision has reportedly poured more than $500 million into developing and marketing the game, which is rumored to have one of the biggest development costs for a game ever. Bungie and Activision are both hoping that investment pays off big time, with Activision CEO Bobby Kotick expecting the game to become Activision's next billion dollar franchise, following in the footsteps of Call of Duty after that franchise's runaway success.

You may be asking yourself, what is the big deal? On the surface Destiny may look like just another sci-fi shooter, but the way it is approaching player interaction and character progression make it anything but. The publisher promises a game that will continue to evolve over time with the help of new DLC and an ever-expanding world.

All of that, alongside the pedigree of developer Bungie, means Destiny is aiming for the stars. Want to know what all the fuss is about? Here are five reasons Destiny is poised to take over your gaming life when it releases on Sept. 9.