It started with a rumor. We’ve known for a while now that Sony intended to reveal its Next Generation Platform (NGP) June 6^th at the Electronic Entertainment Expo but the would-be official name of the device has been kept under wraps for months now. However, all that may have finally come to an end now that the HTML source of the teaser page for the NGP has been plumbed by anxious fans.

According to a post on Destructoid that’s been making the rounds, the name may have been pinned down:

The rumors and the leaks about the official name for Sony’s next portable, tentatively called the “Next Generation Portable” (or NGP), are looking more legit today.

Folks have spotted wording and details buried in the HTML source code for Sony’s official E3 website that indicate the handheld will be officially dubbed “PS Vita.” This corroborates the leaked information, which including alleged marketing materials and anonymous sources.

Of course, Sony could just be completely screwing with everyone, and will totally take us off guard during next week’s press conference. You know, the one where Rebecca Black will be performing.

Production of the NGP—potentially aka PlayStation Vita—has seen a bit of a rocky road on its way to market with the tsunami and quake in Japan potentially delaying its production. No doubt, it’s a great boon to see that it will make the floor of E3 after all.

However, we also know that Sony has already been planning for this eventuality and has changed gears when it comes to the production of the NGP. In late May, CFO Masaru Kato spoke to the media and explained that the video game console manufacturer intends to take a different tact for the manufacture of this next-gen handheld.

In light of the recent PlayStation Network hacks dumping heavily on Sony’s reputation in the industry, it’s good to see that they’re still rocking like a space marine when it comes to handheld consoles. Especially, noting the advent of awesome gaming smartphone by Sony-Ericsson, the Xperia PLAY. They also have to face Nintendo and their 3D handheld to contend with (but even that hasn’t helped them much).

This hasn’t been a good year for Japanese gaming companies and electronics.

Here’s hoping that E3 2011 will be a shot-in-the-arm for that industry.

See you there.