Pending™
Vanessa Kang
Pending™ is a decision-based game that explores the illusion of power in corporate-controlled platforms, where the rules of online existence are dictated from above. The player assumes the role of an operator recruited by an online governance company, United Systems (US), tasked with reviewing user profiles and deciding who is allowed to stay online. Through daily evaluations over the course of five workdays, the player approves or denies profiles based on corporate guidelines.
However, the policies are ever-changing. Each decision feels personal, but the system ensures the outcome remains the same. Throughout the game, players refer to the employee manual, an internal document that outlines corporate policies, system rules, and updates. While it serves as a guide, it also reinforces the rigid structure in which operators function, raising questions about whether the player is truly making decisions—or simply following orders.
The act of deciding who can stay online is symbolic of corporate control over digital identity and free speech in the real world. The game critiques the illusion of agency in AI governance and highlights how digital platforms operate under a system of absolute control, where workers, users, and even the moderators themselves are expendable.