On what date did the PlayStation 5 first launch in 2020?

The PlayStation 5 first launched on November 12, 2020.

Sony released the PlayStation 5 on that date in the United States, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. The console then launched in additional markets, including Europe, on November 19, 2020.

The PS5 introduced a custom solid-state drive designed to reduce loading times, along with the Tempest 3D AudioTech system and the DualSense controller. Its launch editions were the standard PS5 with a disc drive and the slimmer Digital Edition without an optical drive.

November 19 is often quoted because it was the launch date for many European markets. The question asks when the PS5 first launched anywhere, making November 12 the relevant date rather than the later worldwide expansion.