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Ming Xia
UX Researcher @ Reality Labs, Meta
Ming Xia is a seasoned professional with over 16 years of experience in entertainment research, having contributed to influential titles including Overwatch, Diablo 3, Hearthstone, and Batman: Arkham Asylum across PC, Console, and Mobile platforms globally.
Ming Xia's expertise lies in providing comprehensive, data-driven insights to executives to guide decision-making and assisting designers in crafting captivating user experiences.
Ming Xia holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology from the University of Washington.
Throughout Ming Xia's career, they have held significant roles in reputable organizations such as Meta, Netflix, Zillow, Blizzard Entertainment, Warner Brothers Games, Monolith Productions, and Microsoft.
With a background spanning roles such as UX Researcher, Senior Researcher, Principal Insights Strategist, and Global Insights Manager, Ming Xia has a wealth of knowledge and skills to offer in the field of entertainment research.
Highlights
After 11 years at Blizzard and 16 years in the games industry, I hung up my badge one final time to say goodbye to Blizzard and gaming. Thanks to all of the wonderful colleagues at Blizzard that have helped me become a better person in my personal life, professionally, or maybe just be a better gamer. Also, none of this would be possible without some of the most epic research partners I've gotten the chance to work with. You know who you are and you will not be forgotten. It’s a rare opportunity to work at a company that served as an inspiration to one’s youth. Blizzard was and still is that dream company for me.
I had not imagined I would be leaving under such challenging times for Blizzard. So I would like to share an anecdote that summarizes my experience at Blizzard. Back in 2012 we released Diablo III to a packed launch event. Crowds stretched from the Spectrum Ferris Wheel to the parking lot. Fans were hyped and the internet was brimming with excitement. But it was not a smooth launch. Players were hit with the infamous “error 37”. The next day we were allowed to play at work but only a handful of us could log in. Day after day, our fans’ excitement turned into outrage. My once proud response when people asked “Do you work for Blizzard?” quickly turned into hesitation. In our next Battleplan, Mike Morhaime got on stage and stated a single goal for Blizzard: To win back the love and trust of our players. After Reaper of Souls came out in 2014, through no small effort, we succeeded. The launch was extremely smooth and the Diablo franchise was once again beloved by our fans. To me Blizzard was never a perfect studio. Blizzard makes neither perfect games nor have perfect people. But when we as employees recognize where we’ve fallen short, we are nearly unstoppable in our mission to be better. Recent events has shown me that unstoppable force still exists today, not only towards our fans but also towards each other. Although I will not be at Blizzard to partake in that change, I am hopeful for my friends and family still there.
So where am I going? I will be exploring a new industry in real-estate with Zillow on the Customer Insights team. I am incredibly excited yet nervous to start this new chapter in life. Thankfully, after just two days at Zillow I've found myself supported by some of the most caring and customer-focused colleagues so I think I'm in good hands. The work here is top notch and I plan on spending the first couple of weeks as a knowledge sponge. There's so much to learn, I can't wait.
We are looking for a new member on our research team at Blizzard.
