So, those of you who are trying to get into the beta have undoubtedly discovered that the beta client you downloaded from PSN isn't actually the full beta, and instead there was around a 10GB download remaining, that you can only do from within the game itself.

I sincerely hope that this isn't how Bungie plans on updating the game in future. Modern consoles have lots of ways of updating games in the background (particularly on PS4, which can do it even whilst the console is on ‘standby’) so that the next time you turn it on to play, your games are up to date and ready to play. Relying on an in-game updater would completely undermine this, and instead of being able to play immediately, the first time you try to play after a major content update you'll have to sit and watch a download bar.

What's the deal then, Bungie, is this just for beta?

No, that just happens if you launch the game before it finishes downloading. PS4 games have the ability to launch after a minimal set of bits are downloaded. The Destiny Beta needs to have all its bits, though, which is why you see what you see.

Your PS4 would have continued to download bits even if you didn't launch it.

No, that just happens if you launch the game before it finishes downloading. PS4 games have the ability to launch after a minimal set of bits are downloaded. The Destiny Beta needs to have all its bits, though, which is why you see what you see.

Your PS4 would have continued to download bits even if you didn't launch it.

Nice! I assume for the retail release we'll be able to start playing before the entire game is downloaded, i.e. we can start exploring Old Russia while Venus is still coming down the pipe.

No, that just happens if you launch the game before it finishes downloading. PS4 games have the ability to launch after a minimal set of bits are downloaded. The Destiny Beta needs to have all its bits, though, which is why you see what you see.

Your PS4 would have continued to download bits even if you didn't launch it.

Excellent, thanks for the clarification!

No, that just happens if you launch the game before it finishes downloading. PS4 games have the ability to launch after a minimal set of bits are downloaded. The Destiny Beta needs to have all its bits, though, which is why you see what you see.

Your PS4 would have continued to download bits even if you didn't launch it.

Nice! I assume for the retail release we'll be able to start playing before the entire game is downloaded, i.e. we can start exploring Old Russia while Venus is still coming down the pipe.

If you pre-order on the PS4 this won't happen because the pre-download is supposed to start on the 9/5. You could have a really slow pipe I guess. ;)

XBone games also do this, so I'd guess that version of the Beta may behave similarly.