SEGA co-founder David Rosen has passed away at the age of 95 on December 25th 2025.
Rosen founded Rosen Enterprises, Ltd. in 1954, originally as a business to sell art created in Japan to the American market. In 1957 the company focus shifted to importing coin-operated amusement machines from Japan to America. In 1965 the company would merge with Nihon Goraku Bussan, Ltd. to create SEGA and Rosen would remain with the company until 1996.
Rosen is a hugely influential figure in the history of video games and without his contributions at SEGA so many legendary arcade machines and gaming platforms would not exist. SEGADriven extend our condolences to Rosen’s friends, family and colleagues. SEGADriven would also personally like to thank Rosen for being indirectly responsible for the existence of this website. We owe the man so much.
Webmaster and lead writer at SEGADriven. Likes old games, heavy music and too much pizza. Follow on Twitter @kronkblats
