Sony PlayStation users donate more than 1.3 million to Japan earthquake relief effort

Sony started "The Great East Japan Earthquake Relief Effort" on March 19 in North America and Europe. It expanded it to Japan and Asia on March 24.

Users of the online PlayStation Store can donate money, and the effort now is operating in more than 40 countries worldwide. To date, donations have topped $1.3 million.

Sony says the full amount will be donated to an organization in each region supporting the relief and recovery efforts in communities affected by the earthquake; American Red Cross - Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund for North America, British Red Cross for Europe, and Central Community Chest of Japan known as the Red Feather Community Chest Movement for Japan and Asia.

“We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake,” said Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "While we continue to make every effort to help the recovery of the affected communities in the region, I would like to express our gratitude to every single PlayStation user across the world who made a contribution to the effort."