Donate to tsunami appeal over PSN

By Fred Dutton Published 18 March, 2011

Sony launches fundraising drive.

You can now make a donation to the tsunami relief effort in Japan direct from your PlayStation Network account, Sony has announced.

According to the PlayStation Blog, next time you boot up your PlayStation 3 you should see a 'Japan Tsunami Appeal' banner on the homepage of the PlayStation Store.

Click on that and you'll be able to make a donation from your PlayStation Store wallet in €2, €5, €10 or €20 chunks. Not only will you be helping out with a very worthy cause, but you'll also net yourself a free Sunrise Blossom Theme.

"Every penny and cent" of your donation will go straight to the British Red Cross, promised Sony Europe president Andrew House, aiding "emergency relief and recovery efforts, including deploying personnel, sending relief supplies and providing financial resources."

"Many gamers in particular feel a special bond with Japan," continued his post, "even if they've never traveled there personally. Its ingenuity and innovation have shaped our industry, and its culture and style have spread to communities across the world.

"Please join us now in helping the Japanese people during this great time of need. Together we can have a significant impact on the relief process."

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (37) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • BluShock #1 1 year ago

    Good idea, will they add the extra UK donors can give with gift aid?

  • ZizouFC #2 1 year ago

    Good stuff. Will have to check if I have any money in my PSN wallet!

  • eviroboy #3 1 year ago

    This time next week there'll be a story of how one fat kid and his irate mum are trying to sue Sony because he inadvertently donated over £1000 from her credit card that was linked to his PSN account. Not that it'll be his fault or anything, in fact chances are he'll probably cry and claim he never wants to play on the thing again...

  • Beano #4 1 year ago

    Just donated £12... hopefully just some of it will help the people who need it and not all end up in some greedy suit's pockets.

  • amiga_dude #5 1 year ago

    I am amazed how long taken them.

    For years I have been saying there should be place in Home for likes of Red Nose Day, Children in Need etc...

  • Dolly #6 1 year ago

    This is great. The price of a pint and you get something back to show everyone how awesome you are! :D

  • ISmoke #7 1 year ago

    How was Amiga_dude been negged so much for saying something like that?

  • lordofleisure #8 1 year ago

    I suspect Amiga_dude's comment was taken in a negative light, even though he was just highlighting that they could have done something sooner etc, though of course people could have donated to other charities in other manners if they so chose as well sooner than waiting for it to appear on PSN.

    Regretfully text often comes off as being taken in different ways depending on the person reading it and therefore even the comment about adding charity places onto the PS Home thingy seems wrong. Never mind eh?

  • captain_Carl #9 1 year ago

    Donated £25

  • haoy #10 1 year ago

    €20 for the cause =D

  • bikmate #11 1 year ago

    I'd join you, but I don't have access to the store.

  • xero521 #12 1 year ago

    im gonna donoate because like the article says i have a bond wiv japan even tho ive never been but if i had the money it would be the 1st country id love to go! i felt more when this disaster hit more than any other coz i like the culture and history of japan and coz im a serious gamer and japan is the home of video games!

  • JoeGBallad #13 1 year ago

    This is great! I've already donated through red cross, but after pay day this week I'll donate again through here. Well done Sony.

  • amiga_dude #14 1 year ago

    It was not ment as negitive coment, it point out an fact and re-publish one of my ideas.

    Since 2010 there has been earthquakes at Haiti, Chile x2, Turkey, China, New Zealand. It just shame it had to start when it happends in Japan just where Sony comes from. But do have to state Sony (Playstation) do have an history of supporing Games Aid.

    They could make use of Home. The advantages would be amazing. People would be able to go to room that had screens showing videos of the events. Posters displaying hard facts what has happed and maps of events. You would be able to meet up with people who want to talk about the events. Also you would be able to donate to issue in hand.
    Also I should state that I think it good idea using PSN in this way, but I smacks of being down quickly. It not set up to take advantage of the tax law and Gift-Aid etc.

    There is no good reasion why it could also be done for events like Red Nose Day, Children in Need.

    It just idea that want to put out there and hopeful someone will run with it.

  • menage #15 1 year ago

    I agree, I can't believe why charity, like the music industry, get's on with the time a lot more. SMS, networks, etc. work way better than a forced monthly payup via paper.

    10 bucks from me.

  • Jacksie66 #16 1 year ago

    Jesus Christ Eurogamer will ye come on and get rid of those feckers selling there shit on these coment pages. We cant post a few comments on here without some bollix tryin to sell us his cheap shitty nike knockoffs. SORT IT OUT...

    P.S. 15euro to Japan from me...

  • HandOfBeadle #17 1 year ago

    Amiga_dude: because creating a PS Home area with videos and posters would be extremely cynical practice. Why would it be right for Sony to use a natural disaster and loss of tens of thousands of human lives as leverage for their own product? Because ultimately, even if the area itself is entirely non-profit, it would be Trojan horsing Home on the back of earnest intentions.

    I know you don't necessarily intend for Sony to capitalise on the catastrophe, but in practice that is what your suggestion would be doing, and would be seen to be doing. The way Sony have done it currently is the best way by far - minimal overheads, maximum exposure, and not doing the sort of thing Charlie Brooker picks up on and condemns on a regular basis.

  • Vanmunt #18 1 year ago

    im off to Japan with Allen-Spawn in October... so I think I had better do a bit!!

  • Bleemo #19 1 year ago

    A fiver from me, a bit cheap but with an MOT and car tax and one birthday this month, it is all I can afford. How impressive would it be thought if all 48 million Sony users donated a tenner? £480m from gamers to charity, I'd like to see Fox news spin that one negatively!

  • Doctor_What #20 1 year ago

    I think this is great. Good work Sony and I've put my hand in my pocket too.

    The screen says that 100% of the donation goes to the Red Cross, so I hope my bit helps out.

  • Wildsleven #21 1 year ago

    read this and donated straight away, my condolences to the people of japan and everyone who lost their lives in ths earthquake/tsunami disaster

  • GamesConnoisseur #22 1 year ago

    Good idea and am donating, though read in The Times today re Japanese Govt being given assistance much so far more than they actually need, and asking politely no more donations or assistance.

    Still just as happy with assistance toward Red Cross.

  • amiga_dude #23 1 year ago

    @Bleemo
    It easy how Fax News would spin £480Million and could go like this

    Gamers could not even give half a billion but just £480Million over few days to Japan but in one day could buy game with sales in in the £Billion to unpopular game serious called Call of Duty. The cheap gamers who gaming systems come from Japan in first place ... Blar Blar Blar ... The gamer who defend games which shows outline of breats ... (Do not mention any negitive comment about guns)

    For ture and unbiased views watch Fax News.

  • sonicyoda #24 1 year ago

    Brilliant idea. Done and done.

  • onezeonx #25 1 year ago

    Why don't they put Motorstorm on psn so I can play and donate.....

  • Gumersindo #26 1 year ago

    20€ and my prayers to the people of Japan.

    And I didn't notice about a free theme. I'm going to check it right away
    Edited by Gumersindo at 19/03/11 @ 20:39

  • callum9999 #27 1 year ago

    As others have mentioned - will this let you use gift aid?

    If not then, depending on how people react to it, it could do more harm than good. (I.e. if you would donate anyway, then the charity loses the extra 28% they would have gotten from the government if you donated directly).

    But on the other hand, maybe it will convince people who wouldn't have donated otherwise? And by giving you the theme, I guess it encourages those who want to publicise they have donated.

  • callum9999 #28 1 year ago

    As others have mentioned - will this let you use gift aid?

    If not then, depending on how people react to it, it could do more harm than good. (I.e. if you would donate anyway, then the charity loses the extra 28% they would have gotten from the government if you donated directly).

    But on the other hand, maybe it will convince people who wouldn't have donated otherwise? And by giving you the theme, I guess it encourages those who want to publicise they have donated.

  • captainCandy #29 1 year ago

    No I won't

  • coolbritannia #30 1 year ago

    I'm buying 4 Bungie wristbands instead. Bungie > PSN

  • Ezzekhiel #31 1 year ago

    10 € from me. Hope they can help.

  • azic #32 1 year ago

    Wonder if geohotz will donate through his CFW?

  • darkos87 #33 1 year ago

    Aww didn't expect a lovely theme to boot :)

  • Doctor_What #34 1 year ago

    That free theme is rather lovely, isn't it? :)

  • actionfitz #35 1 year ago

    Sounds good.
    Haven't fired my PS3 up since Dark Souls was announced (which of course meant I needed another Battering from Demons Souls hehe, just for old time sake :p ).
    This is a worthy reason to dust the old girl off :)

  • Porcupine_I #36 1 year ago

    ....and i diiiiiid!

  • chrisjm #37 1 year ago

    for people without PSN, go to amazon and they have a button there, no forms or filling in just log in.