Capcom has announced that Resident Evil 5 for PS3 and 360 will be made available in Japan on March 5th 2009, a week earlier than the previously announced March 12th.

The publisher cites ‘shortened development time’ for the date change, although the game will still hit European and North American shores on Friday March 13th.

The publisher notes that the release date change ‘should not have a significant impact on overall sales.’

Resident Evil 5 is the follow-up to last generation’s critically acclaimed Resident Evil 4, which was re-released on Nintendo Wii last year – selling over one million copies.