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David Rosen, Cofounder of SEGA, Passed Away at 95 in Los Angeles. Visionary, He Participated in the Arcade, Console Era, and the Global Expansion of the Company.
The death of David Rosen, at 95 years old, marks the end of the journey of one of the key figures behind the origin of SEGA and the establishment of the video game industry.
The businessman passed away peacefully at his home in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, United States, on December 25, 2025. The funeral was held last Friday (2) at Inglewood Park Cemetery.
Rosen leaves a legacy directly linked to the rise of arcades, SEGA’s international expansion, and the company’s most competitive period in the console market.
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SEGA Before Consoles: Arcades as a Starting Point
Before competing with giants of the home market, SEGA built its identity in arcades.
It was in this segment that the company gained strength, following a path common to many Japanese companies of the time.
David Rosen played a central role in this process by establishing the company as a reference in coin-operated machines, helping to lay the groundwork that would later allow SEGA to enter the console market.
The Return to the USA and the Decisive Years of the Company
In the 1980s, after helping to transform SEGA into a leader in arcades, David Rosen returned to the United States.
Even away from Japan, he remained connected to the company during one of the most significant periods in its history.
Rosen witnessed the launch of the Master System, a console that achieved great success in regions such as Europe, Brazil, and Australia. He was also present during the phase when SEGA made a symbolic turnaround against Nintendo with the Mega Drive.
The Exit Before the End of the Hardware Era
David Rosen remained with SEGA until 1996. His journey within the company ended before the launch of the Dreamcast, a console that ultimately marked the company’s definitive exit from the hardware market.
Still, his influence remained, as many of SEGA’s strategic paths were defined during the period when he was directly involved with the company.
From Military to Entrepreneur in Japan
<p Long before his name became intertwined with the history of SEGA, David Rosen had a military career.
He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War in the 1950s.
After the conflict, Rosen decided to stay in Japan, a country undergoing an intense reconstruction process after World War II.
It was in this context that he started a photography business for identification documents.
The Merger That Led to SEGA
Rosen’s business journey underwent a significant change when he moved into the pinball and coin-operated machines segment.
This move paved the way for the expansion of his business.
Later, his company was involved in a merger with Nihon Goraku Bussan, an importer in the industry.
This union led to the joint venture Service Games, a name that would later be shortened to SEGA.
The Legacy of David Rosen for SEGA and Games
The death of David Rosen occurs at a symbolic moment for the video game industry.
With just over 50 years of consolidation, the sector is beginning to say goodbye to some of its founders and main visionaries.
This scenario reinforces the importance of figures like Rosen, who helped structure a market that today generates billions and influences global culture.
David Rosen will be remembered as one of the key names in the history of SEGA and the video game industry.
His journey shows how strategic vision, adaptation, and timing were essential to transforming mechanical entertainment into a digital phenomenon.
The impact of his decisions remains alive in games, consoles, and in the memory of generations of players who grew up with the SEGA brand.
Source: CanalTech
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