PSP World

Rumor: PSP 2 Has Touch Controls On Back of Device

More information continues to leak out concerning Sony's secret new PSP project. Some have speculated that it is going to be a phone bearing Playstation branding, while others suggest that it is an entirely new generation of hardware with touch input. The latest rumor suggests that touch is indeed on the menu for Sony's upcoming handheld, but not quite in the way we expected.

Eurogamer, who first broke the news about the device, revealed the new information today, via some of their anonymous friends in the software industry:

"According to three separate development sources who have seen and used the new PSP, the screen is rich and detailed but the headline feature is the way games are controlled - by a touch-sensitive area on the back of the unit behind the screen."

Now, if this turns out to be true, it would indeed be a clever design. One of the main problems we have with controlling games on Apple hardware is that our fat fingers constantly get in the way of the action. By putting a touch pad on the rear side of the device, the designers cleverly avoid this problem (although we have difficulty imagining how it would work as we fondle the back of our PSP 3000 to test). Of course, we hope that Sony doesn't go completely touch-based for input on the new device, as we still like the classic face buttons and analog sticks on our Playstation kit.

How long before we learn more about this mysterious new device? Since Gamescom has passed without significant announcement, countdowns are now focused on the Tokyo Game Show which takes place at the end of September.

The next PSP may have touch controls in an unusual location.