Sony announces donation to Los Angeles wildfire relief

UPDATE 15/1/25: Following Sony's announcement yesterday, several PlayStation developers have announced their own donations which will support relief efforts in Los Angeles.

"We are deeply saddened to see so much of our local community affected, including many of our team members, partners and friends," God of War studio Santa Monica wrote on social media platform X.

"We want to thank all of the first responders who continue to work tirelessly around the clock putting their own safety on the line to protect the people of Southern California. In these dire circumstances, we are reminded that the heart of this incredible city beats with singular resilient compassion as so many have selflessly rallied together to provide aid for their neighbours and strangers alike.

"While we know the road to rebuilding will be long, there's no place we're more proud to call home."

A similar sentiment was shared by both Insomniac Games and Naughty Dog.

"Insomnaic has called the Los Angeles area home for decades. We feel a responsibility to support the communities that have moulded us into who and what we are today," the Spiderman studio wrote, thanking first responders and volunteers for their "heroic acts with the ongoing contaminant and relief" efforts.

"Please stay safe," Insomniac closed.

"Naughty Dog is deeply saddened by the Los Angeles wildfires' impact on our neighbours, our friends and family, and even some of our own dogs," said The Last of Us' developer. "While we have been working hard to support those of our own team that have been affected, we also want to support the community we are part of." The studio has made donations to the LA Fire Department Foundation, World Central Kitchen, CCF Wildfire Fund and the Pasadena Human Society.

Naughty Dog also shared its gratitude to first responders, adding the studio is "Los Angeles grown" and "proud" to be a part of "such a strong and resilient community".

The original story continues below.

ORIGINAL 14/1/25: PlayStation maker Sony is among the companies that have announced donations to help with relief and rebuilding efforts in the wake of Los Angeles' devastating wildfires.

A week on, several areas of the city are still burning - and there's now fresh fear of further destruction as forecasters expect "close to hurricane force" winds to spread the fires once again over the coming days (via BBC News). At least 24 people are known to have died, 23 more are missing, and 12,401 structures have been lost.

As firefighters continue to tackle the blazes, Sony has announced a $5m donation to support first responders and the community affected by the fires.

"Los Angeles has been the home of our entertainment businesses for more than 35 years," Sony chairman and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida and Sony president and COO Hiroki Totoki said in a joint statement shared on social media.

"We will continue work with our local business leadership to determine how best Sony group can support relief and recovery efforts in the days ahead."

Other entertainment companies have also announced donations, including $10m donations each from Amazon, Netflix and NBCUniversal owner Comcast, plus $15m from Warner Bros Discovery.

Paramount is chipping in $1m, while Beyoncé has said she's donating $2.5m.

Away from the disaster's human cost, the early impact of the fires was also seen in a spate of delays to Los Angeles' film and TV industries, including a pause in production of Fallout season two.