So far, the PlayStation Certified program hasn't been that impressive, only offering a few PlayStation One titles with added touch controls like the original Syphon Filter. But the program looks to be taking the next logical step and adding more recent PSP games.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board has listed Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror for release on “PlayStation Certified Devices”, but we don't know if it'll be the original PSP version of the game or the updated PS2 port. If the PSP games will be available on all PlayStation Certified products, that will include Sony's S and P tablets, the Xperia Play, the Xperia Arc and Acro in Japan and the upcoming Xperia S and Xperia ion.

We'll keep our ears to the ground for pricing and release information as it becomes available.

It appears that the long wait for a new edition to the Syphon Filter franchise is nearly over as Sony is rumoured to be planning to be making an announcement for the PS3 title in February 2012. That's according to the latest issue of PLAY magazine (via SilleGamer), which says that Syphon Filter 4 will be announced in February 2012 and will be launches winter 2012 as a PlayStation 3 exclusive title.

UK magazine Play claims :

"As far as our spies tell us, Syphon Filter 4 will be announced and released during 2012 - they're not often wrong either. Developed by SCE London Studio (once thought to be Sony Bend), it will see a return to the world of shooting, espionage and Gabe Logan's superb name."

London Studio, established in 2001, is SCE's largest internal development studio in Europe. This isn't the first we've heard of Syphon Filter 4. In May 2011 an accidentally published PlayStation Blog post claimed it would "revolutionise" stealth with a new engine developed by Sony London. Is it a reboot?

Syphon Filter is a third-person action game, which stands alongside the Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell franchises: you're a stealthy soldier who achieves the impossible. In Syphon Filter's case, you fill the boots of Gabe Logan.

Sony have updated the PlayStation Plus content on the North American PlayStation Store for January 2012, which sees the PSOne Classics, Syphon Filter 1, Syphon Filter 2 and Syphon Filter 3 (usually costs US $5.99 each game) being offered as free content to PlayStation Plus subscribers throughout this month.

It's a very good offer and a great indication as to whether a new Syphon Filter title is in development, but for now Syphon Filter 2 is still missing from the European PlayStation Store while Syphon Filter 1 and Syphon Filter 3 are up for sale for GBP £3.99.

Every year GameTrailers and Spike TV host the annual Video Game Awards, where the show acts as a grand stage for a number of high-profile video game reveals. Last years' awards saw the announcements of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Mass Effect 3 and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception. This year, Spike TV is teasing a “PS3 exclusive you won't believe”.

According to this picture of a Times Square advertisement, taken by a NeoGAF forum member, the text reveals some teasers for what to expect at this year's VGAs. There will be a total of 13 world premiers, including “Metal Gear Solid: Rising, Bioshock Infinte, and a PS3 exclusive you won't believe.

What the exclusive might be is really up in the air. The previous assumption of it being the rumoured “Sony Smash Bros.” game has lately been (but not completely) denied by Geoff Keighley as he has hinted that might not be the game appearing on the annual show.

Fans taking to Twitter were pummeling @geoffkeighley with questions about the PS3 exclusive that will debut at the VGAs. Some fans were considerably adamant about it being the Sony fighter, but Keighley, the show's host, challenges the insinuation :

PT Ceta: It's the Sony Smash Bros, Geoff, give us something less predictable~ :p Keighley: Let's make a bet! LazySpartan: More than likely the Smash Bros-esque game that has screenshots circling about. Keighley: Wanna bet?

As you can see, Keighley is willing to bet that it's not the Sony fighting mash-up. The man is in the know, he is the show's host after all.

If it's not the Sony Smash Bros. game, then what could it be? A new Syphon Filter perhaps? This could make perfect sense as Syphon Filter developer, Bend Studios is wrapping up development of Uncharted: Golden Abyss, which is due to be released on the PlayStation Vita on the 22nd February 2012 as part of the launch lineup in North America and Europe.

This means Sony Bend Studios would then be free to develop a new (and first PS3) Syphon Filter title. We really do hope that this “PS3 exclusive you won't believe” is indeed a new iteration in the Syphon Filter series, as the logo (seen above) was leaked out on the official forums of the US PlayStation Blog just prior to E3 2011, but unfortunately the title never materialised at the game show, which disappointed a lot of fans.

The Spike TV VGAs airs on Saturday 10th December 2011 at 8PM EST / 5PM PST and Sunday 11th December 2011 at 1AM GMT.

The August 2011 edition of the Italian Official Playstation Magazine has hinted at the existence of the long-awaited Syphon Filter 4, with the title reportedly gearing up for a release in Winter 2012. Eager fans of the stealthy third-person shooting franchise have been anxiously clambering for scraps of information regarding a new iteration following a supposed leak on the official US Playstation website – in which details of the sequel and a rough logo were accidently posted and quickly taken down.

Syphon Filter 4 is rumoured to be a full-blown sequel to PSP title Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow and is allegedly in development at SCE London Studio – it will also utilize a highly efficient, visually advanced engine. The respected publication revealed that the title will release exclusively for PS3 in Q4 2012, corresponding with a bout of previous rumours which surfaced in June, 2011. Check out the translated rumour below.

”Syphon Filter 4 is slowly gearing up for a release on PS3. Expect a launch for Winter 2012.”

With most people expecting the next Syphon Filter title to be heading to the PlayStation 3, it seems that Sony Bend has other others for the next iteration of the much-loved franchise, with the November 2011 issue of the UK Official PlayStation Magazine saying in its "Rumour Machine" that :

"SCE Bend is currently hard at work on Uncharted: Golden Abyss, but it's hush-hush Vita project is a return to Syphon Filter"

This seems interesting and a logical step forward for the franchise as both of the PSP titles, Dark Mirror and Logan's Shadow were the best received games' in the franchise since the PSONe originals, and it seems that Sony Bend would like to continue developing games' for handheld formats like the PSP, and the PS Vita.

What do you think about this latest turn of events for the Syphon Filter series?