 Would Microsoft spin off Xbox into its own company? It's unlikely, but not impossible. I'm Jake Kastronakis, and this is 90 Seconds on the Verge. Would you support him if he wanted to? We're going to have an overall gaming strategy, so it's not as obvious as you might think. Would you support him if he wanted to spin off? Absolutely. OK, that's news. That's Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates responding to a question of whether the company would consider spinning off Xbox and Bing into separate companies. Gates was quick to call Bing a, quote, fundamental technology and core business, but he was more ambiguous about Xbox, deferring to new CEO Satya Nadella. To be clear, that in no way means that Microsoft is thinking about spinning off Xbox, or even that Gates himself thinks is a good idea. But according to Washington Post earlier this year, investors have been asking for Microsoft to spin off non-essential properties, including Xbox. CEO contender Stephen Elop was reportedly considering breaking apart Xbox and Bing, too, if he got the top job. Elop is now the head of Microsoft's hardware division. Since becoming CEO, Nadella has said multiple times that Microsoft must thrive in a, quote, mobile-first, cloud-first world. One of the core things that we've got to realize is that this business does not really respect tradition. The Xbox was first introduced in 2001, and while sales of the new console lag behind Sony's PlayStation 4, it remains a very important brand for Microsoft. Even so, Gates' comments are still likely to end up as fuel for the investors' fire. For more on Microsoft, check out The Verge. Coming up, we take a look back at 2001, the Rock Odyssey. Finally, Bill Gates hooked up with The Rock. Smell The Rock is good.
 Would Microsoft spin off Xbox into its own company?
 It's unlikely, but not impossible.
 I'm Jake Kastronakis, and this is 90 Seconds on the Verge.
 Would you support him if he wanted to?
 We're going to have an overall gaming strategy,
 so it's not as obvious as you might think.
 Would you support him if he wanted to spin off?
 Absolutely.
 OK, that's news.
 That's Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates responding
 to a question of whether the company would consider spinning
 off Xbox and Bing into separate companies.
 Gates was quick to call Bing a, quote,
 fundamental technology and core business,
 but he was more ambiguous about Xbox,
 deferring to new CEO Satya Nadella.
 To be clear, that in no way means
 that Microsoft is thinking about spinning off Xbox,
 or even that Gates himself thinks is a good idea.
 But according to Washington Post earlier this year,
 investors have been asking for Microsoft to spin off
 non-essential properties, including Xbox.
 CEO contender Stephen Elop was reportedly
 considering breaking apart Xbox and Bing,
 too, if he got the top job.
 Elop is now the head of Microsoft's hardware division.
 Since becoming CEO, Nadella has said multiple times
 that Microsoft must thrive in a, quote,
 mobile-first, cloud-first world.
 One of the core things that we've got to realize
 is that this business does not really respect tradition.
 The Xbox was first introduced in 2001,
 and while sales of the new console
 lag behind Sony's PlayStation 4, it
 remains a very important brand for Microsoft.
 Even so, Gates' comments are still
 likely to end up as fuel for the investors' fire.
 For more on Microsoft, check out The Verge.
 Coming up, we take a look back at 2001, the Rock Odyssey.
 Finally, Bill Gates hooked up with The Rock.
 Smell The Rock is good.