Sony earthquake appeal raises $1.3 million

The ongoing Great East Japan Earthquake relief campaign on the PlayStation Network has raised ¥109.6 million ($1.32 million) in donations and purchases from PlayStation 3 owners.

The appeal was launched in the West on March 19 and in Asia on March 24, and includes special XMB custom themes for those making donations. The appeal is currently active in 40 countries around the world.

The money will be donated to an organisation in each region supporting relief and recovery efforts, namely the British Red Cross, the American Red Cross - Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund, and the Central Community Chest of Japan/Red Feather Community Chest Movement for Japan and Asia.

As well as private donations Sony Computer Entertainment will continue to support the relief effort directly with its own funds.

"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," said Kazuo Hirai, president and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.