The gymnasium of Kipp High School buzzed with anticipation as robotics teams across Austin, Texas, waited anxiously for the reveal of the 2025-2026 For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Tech Challenge game (FTC) game, called DECODE^TM, on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the FTC kickoff.

Each year brings a different game and concept for the competition season, and robotics teams compete to create robots to play the season’s game the best. Four Westwood Robotics teams attended the release, eager to get a head start on the coming season. While waiting for the reveal, students participated in various team-building games. The activities included “Rock Paper Scissors” competition chains and “Human Knots”, fostering a sense of collaboration to start off a year of collective effort.

“My favorite game was the ‘Rock Paper Scissors’ chain because we were able to rally behind our team, and one of our Westwood teams actually won the entire game,” Director of Information Jining Liu ‘26 said. “[These games] are important because robotics is all about team-building. If you have bad communication within your team, or no teamwork, you’re not going to be a good mix.”

As the clock approached 11 a.m., teams settled into rows of seats in front of the large display screen and hidden game field. Waiting in anticipation, they discussed potential game leaks, the shape of the arena, and other theories. Each team had different hopes for the game that aligned to their overall skills or specialties

“I was hoping for another pick-and-place game because that’s what we were prepping for during the off-season,” Tomahawk Captain Deekshita Sivakumar ‘28 said. “But it was refreshing to see something new.”

As the screen lit up with FIRST’s annual game reveal animation, the crowd hushed as the presentation finally began, unveiling game elements, designs, and area for the first time. Students clapped and chattered as the tarps were raised off of the game field in the center of the gym, showcasing an in-person example of the arena.

“Seeing the arena in person always helps us understand the game on a more personal level,” FTC Director Aubrey Tipps ‘26 said. “Before then, we have to imagine everything and plan it in our heads. Seeing the dimensions, materials, and layout of the arena not only helps the game settle in, it [also] helps us plan strategically. I also find it a really good way for teams to make connections, as everyone usually hangs around the field talking through ideas and strategy.”

This year’s game, known as DECODE^TM, was revealed to utilize game elements similar to a wiffle ball. Each match involves shooting the purple and green balls into the goal, earning more points if shot in a specific order.

“My favorite part of the game is indexing the balls,” Slingshot Software Lead Ishaan Desai ‘29 said. “That’s what makes it interesting and challenging.”

Following the exciting event, Westwood teams returned to the school’s MakerSpace in order to brainstorm and reconvene with their peers. This meeting held just as much value as the kickoff event as an essential first step toward a successful season.

“Brainstorming with my team after reveal is one of my favorite aspects of robotics,” Event Associate Officer Rupal Jain ‘27 said. “Immediately after seeing the game, our minds were flooded with ideas and strategies. It was amazing how much progress we made in just a few hours, and being able to build off of my teammates’ ideas is a rewarding experience on its own.”

The Westwood Robotics teams will compete at their first League Meet competition in early November, giving the students around two and a half months to put their best robot forward.