Microsoft is providing more ammunition to its Xbox 360 team in Japan with the introduction of two new bundles for 2009. A Star Ocean 4 bundle will be joined by a Resident Evil 5 pack.

The official details are: "The Star Ocean 4 bundle will be called Xbox 360 Arcade Star Ocean 4 Premium Pack. This bundle will include an Xbox 360 Arcade unit, complete with the Xbox Live Arcade Omniverse Disk, and a copy of Star Ocean 4. The bundled system will be the latest hardware revision, with 256 megabytes of storage built in.

"The bundle also includes two bonuses: a Star Ocean 4 original face plate and a Star Ocean Sound Best Collection soundtrack CD. The latter item is being given away to all those who pre-order the solo Star Ocean 4 game, although the version included with the bundle will have special packaging and a special label.

Pricing for the bundle version is set at 24,800 yen" (£179) it's due for release on February 19th.

"The Resident Evil 5 bundle will be called Xbox 360 Resident Evil 5 Premium Pack. It will include an 60 gigabyte Xbox 360 Standard Model, a headset, and a copy of the Resident Evil 5 Deluxe Edition. As previously announced, this Deluxe Edition version of the game ships in a metal case and includes a soundtrack CD.

"While there won’t be a faceplate included with this version, Microsoft and Capcom will be included a code for accessing a premium Resident Evil 5 theme.

Pricing for the Resident Evil 5 set will run at 34,800 yen" (£250) which is due for release on March 5th.

Quick comparison time: the PS3 Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle last year comprised:

- MGS4 Special Edition software (Metal Gear Online starter pack/2-layer blu-ray disc)
- PlayStation 3 MGS4 original color model "Hagane" (40 GB model) x 1
- Wireless controller (DUALSHOCK®3)
- MGS4 original colour model "Hagane"
- Special video blu-ray disc

That came in at Y51,800 (£375). Its LittleBigPlanet 'Dream Box' comes in at Y44,980 (£325) and included the game, an 80Gb PS3, and two DualShock 3 controllers.