Some Destiny players who purchased The Dark Below DLC have discovered that they can no longer access the base game.

According to several online discussion threads (here and here on Reddit), once players purchase The Dark Below DLC, they are presented with a countdown timer for the downloadable content's release.

However, some players cannot get past the countdown timer. It appears this only affects users who download a digital version of the game on PS4, and then go on to purchase the DLC standalone (as in, not as part of a season pass purchase).

The Dark Below is Bungie's first Destiny expansion, which is set for a release on December 9. That launch date likely means that the countdown block will resolve itself in a day (but this isn't guaranteed).

Some Reddit users have suggested a workaround might be possible if players delete and re-download the game file. However, it has not been confirmed that this method works.

The issue was complicated further because the PlayStation Network went down overnight, meaning some users have experienced problems downloading the game file.

Priced at $20 / £20, Bungie's The Dark Below includes:

New weapons, armour, and gear to further customise your Guardian

The ability to increase your Light level to 32, and five additional bounty slots

Three new competitive multiplayer maps: Pantheon, Skyshock, and The Cauldron

New cooperative Strike: The Will of Crota. Purge a twisted horror from the Cosmodrome

An additional resident of the Tower: Eris, a resolute survivor of an ill-fated mission

And a new six-player Raid: Crota’s End. Face him in the deepest dark

Some exclusive content is also coming to the PS4 edition.

Look below for some recently released Dark Below images.