There’s a rumor floating around Gamescom in Cologne, Germany this week, that selected VIPs are supposedly getting hands-on with the next PSP, which apparently features touch-controls on the back of the device for added gameplay input.

If true, it shows that Sony is definitely sitting up and taking notice of Nintendo and its DS range of touchscreens—though it could be years too late for them.

Sony has already told Eurogamer that it “does not comment on rumor and speculation,” but sources have told the site that it’s slated to go on sale before 2011 finishes up. This is beginning to sound more like that fabled PSP2, which would be a true successor to the various PSP models launched so far.

VG247 had previously said they’d heard the next PSP would contain dual cameras, a touchscreen, a four-cell processor and even embedded 3G connectivity. If the device has even half of the aforementioned rumors, I’d be interested. And it’s been a long time since I was interested in a PSP.