Sony Computer Entertainment  today updated the status of the Great East Japan Earthquake relief effort through PlayStation Network which started in North America and Europe on March 19, 2011 and in Japan and Asia on March 24, 2011.

The PlayStation Store has offered special custom themes for the PlayStation 3 system to those who donated money through the PlayStation Network to support emergency relief and recovery efforts for the East Japan Earthquake.  The effort is now operating in 40 countries around the globe.

Since the launch of the initiative its been revealed that PlayStation users’ worldwide donations as of March 31, 2011, totaled to 109.6 million yen (approximately US $1.318 million).  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.”

SCE are to continue support for the region through its relief effort.

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Awesome job everyone.

Sony are a bunch of evil bastards, they want to gobble up your freedom.

True that lol :P

Not that amazing since that's <500k people.

Rather disapointing

1million dollars is not impressive? There's just no pleasing some people is there? This is a commendation to the psn users in my books, they are willing to donate to a worthy cause instead of some attention seeking mook.

I did, donated $5.00... 

Great act from Sony. :)

Good job Sony people.  Soon your freedom to donate will be taken away when the PSN comes down.....

I'm gonna use the arguement supporters of Geohot use and say Sony had nothing to do with it eventhough they organised the whole thing and allowed others to donate money, they had nothing to do with it because they are not the one donating the money.

donation is donation, it does not matter how many, even if it was only one.

I donated and I hope they invest it for good, I dont regret :)

How old are you? Investing time to receive money, create a product, create marketing around a product and not promoting a real product just for receive donations and let this money reach Japan red cross and others... there´s no cost in that operation? Did you know things like that costs a lot of money, are you just a kid trying to see Sony as an Evil thing, LOL.... you are funny.