Looks like we may catch a glimpse of Sony’s next-generation portable plans sooner rather than later. Trade sources have confirmed to UK site MCV that Sony is holding a press event in Tokyo on January 27, where the oft-rumored, touch-panel touting PSP2 will take center stage.

To date, various publishers have been given access to PSP2 dev hardware. Mortal Kombat’s executive producer Shaun Himmerick called it a “pretty powerful machine” last September.

While a formal reveal wasn’t expected this soon, it’s certainly an opportune time for Sony to steal some of Nintendo’s thunder, with the 3DS only a month away in Japan.

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