Earlier this week reports of a planned sequel to Nintendo’s Wii surfaced via Game Informer. According to Game Informer – the world’s largest games magazine – Nintendo will unveil a new console at E3 this year, which starts 7 June. 

The console will apparently at least match the processing power of the Xbox 360 and PS3, and will be an “HD console” – 720p of course, not full HD. Current reports claim that the console will be launched in late 2012. 

According to another respected publication, CVG, the console’s controller will feature a built in high resolution touch screen. This claim has been backed up by French tech site, 01net. 01net earned industry respect when it released the NGP specs before it was even announced.

The latest reports emerging claim that the Wii is currently being called Project Café, and sports similar architecture to the Xbox 360, but “a bit more powerful”. 

Apparently the Wii 2 will pack an IBM triple core PowerPC CPU, and an ATi R700 GPU with shader unit version 4.1 and 512MB of RAM.

On top of the touch screen display, the controller will apparently boast a front-facing camera, D-Pad, two triggers, two bumpers and “possibly more”. 

Apparently Nintendo will reveal another “big surprise” about the console at E3 in June. 

Anything Wii 2 related falls strictly into rumour territory for now, but given the sources, we are expecting an official announcement in the next few months.