David Rosen, Co-founder of Sega, Passes Away at 95

by Marcus Thompson January 7, 2026

written by Marcus Thompson January 7, 2026

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David Rosen, co-founder of Sega Enterprises, played a significant role in shaping the slot machine and arcade industries in Japan.
Rosens company was instrumental in the transition from importing coin-operated machines to manufacturing their own arcade games by the late 1960s.
In the 1980s, Sega entered the home TV game market with the SG-1000 and Master System, finding success in Europe and South America but facing strong competition from Nintendos NES in North America.
David Rosens impact on the video game industry was recognized with condolences from Sega following his passing in 2026.

Pioneering Co-founder of Sega, David Rosen (1928-2023), Honored in Los Angeles

Sega co-founder David Rosen passed away at the age of 95 on July 4, 2023, in his home in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles. His funeral was held on January 2 at Inglewood Park Cemetery, according to reports that surfaced over the weekend of January 5. Born in Brooklyn, Rosen served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War in the 1950s. After the war, he started Rosen Enterprises in Japan in 1954, initially providing ID documentation photos as the nation rebuilt after World War II. His enterprise soon shifted to importing coin-operated amusement machines and selling Japanese art and photo booths. In 1965, Rosen Enterprises merged with Nihon Goraku Bussan, an importer in the same field, to form Sega Enterprises. Rosen was among a group of American entrepreneurs who helped shape the slot machine and arcade industries that eventually grew into Sega Enterprises Ltd. In an interview from December 1996, Rosen stated that his arcade machines could be found in every Japanese city and that his company held a near-monopoly for two years before competition emerged.

Pioneering Sega Co-founder David Rosen’s Impact in Video Game Industry Recognized (1928-2026)

By the late 1960s, Sega began manufacturing its own arcade games. In the late 1970s, Rosen set his sights on the home TV game market, entering a field dominated by Nintendo’s Color TV-Game console and later the Nintendo Entertainment System. Sega entered the video game console market in the early 1980s with the SG-1000, followed by the Master System in the mid-1980s. The Master System found success in Europe and South America but faced stronger competition from Nintendo’s NES in North America. Rosen returned to the U.S. in the 1980s and remained with Sega until 1996. He oversaw the launch of the Master System in Europe, Brazil, and Australia, as well as Sega’s competition with Nintendo and the Mega Drive. Sega posted the following statement on X (formerly Twitter) on January 7, 2026: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of David Rosen, one of the founders of SEGA and a true pioneer in the video game industry. SEGA would like to offer its condolences to the family, friends, and acquaintances of Mr. Rosen, and we will always remember his contributions.” [Via Canaltech]