The Hidden Roots of Sega Arcade Gaming

Sega did not always conquer the arcades alone. In the late 1970s, the Japanese giant absorbed a small San Diego company called Gremlin Industries to jumpstart its presence in North America.

Before this partnership, Gremlin was a pioneer in early video games with titles like Blockade, which introduced the concept of trail-leaving games. By acquiring them, Sega gained a crucial foothold in the Western market. Gremlin later helped distribute iconic hits like Frogger and Zaxxon before eventually being rebranded as Sega Electronics. Their influence remains a core piece of the legacy behind the global gaming brand we recognize today.