FIRST^® AGE™ presented by Qualcomm

Game & Season Info

Starting September 6, 2025, FIRST^® Tech Challenge teams will investigate the power of the world’s artifacts and unlock mysteries in a new challenge, DECODE™ presented by RTX.

Every artifact we uncover holds a story. Each tool, each innovation, each work of art connects us to the people and ideas that came before us. Using STEM skills and teamwork, today we can dig deeper into discoveries than ever before.

Explore FIRST AGE Season Materials

DECODE DETAILS

Welcome to DECODE

Game Animation

Watch the DECODE Game Animation

Uncover the 2025-2026 game animation to see how your team will unlock mysteries and uncover the future in DECODE^TM presented by RTX.

Watch
Field Tour

Uncover the Field

Join FIRST Tech Challenge staff for a closer look at game elements, field specifications, and scoring options during a detailed field walkthrough of DECODE.

Watch
StarterBots

Explore More Resources

Check out robot building, coding, and game-play resources to help teams get started this season, including StarterBots and FTC SIM.

For the competition manual, team updates, and technical resources, visit the game & season materials page.

Watch Find Game & Season Materials

Watch the DECODE Game Animation

Uncover the 2025-2026 game animation to see how your team will unlock mysteries and uncover the future in DECODE^TM presented by RTX.

Watch

Uncover the Field

Join FIRST Tech Challenge staff for a closer look at game elements, field specifications, and scoring options during a detailed field walkthrough of DECODE.

Watch

Explore More Resources

Check out robot building, coding, and game-play resources to help teams get started this season, including StarterBots and FTC SIM.

For the competition manual, team updates, and technical resources, visit the game & season materials page.

Watch Find Game & Season Materials

Additional Team Resources

Quick Links to Your Top Season Resources

Game Materials

View and download current and archived season game manuals for critical gameplay and other season information.

View All

Competition Manual

From gameplay rules to judged award information, find everything you need to know.

View & Download

Team Management Resources

From mentor resources to fundraising and grants, outreach, and recruitment, find the resources you need to build a successful team.

View All

Robot Building Resources

Find and review build guides, CAD resources, and more to start designing and building your team robot.

Get Building

Programming Resources

Review software requirements, tips, programming resources, additional resources and support for questions and troubleshooting.

Start Programming

Event Results

Following a team’s success? Find match and award results for scrimmages, league meets and tournaments, championships, and more.

Find Results

Season Calendar

FIRST Tech Challenge is a year-long program. Search for key season moments and events.

View

Additional FIRST Tech Challenge Resources

Find everything you’re looking for and more. Search the FIRST Tech Challenge resource library.

Explore Resource Library

Youth Team Member Registration

FIRST requires all youth team members to register. Find enrollment options, detailed information, instructions, and FAQs to get started.

Get Started

Registration is now open

Still need to register? Register for the DECODE season in the FIRST Dashboard or sign up to learn more about FIRST Tech Challenge.

Stay Connected This Season

In between team meetings this season, stay connected to the FIRST Tech Challenge community with the latest updates, team resources, and next steps for the future.

Facebook YouTube

Get Inspired

Written by FIRST staff and guests, read the latest FIRST Community Blog for the latest program updates, educational, and inspirational content.

Read the Latest

Dig Into DECODE

Download and share logos, social graphics, posters, and more to take your FIRST AGE season celebration even further.

View Resources

FIRST Alumni

Prepare for Life Beyond High School

The FIRST experience doesn't end with high school! Education and career opportunities open up to you as a FIRST participant and alum. Check out resources and next steps to becoming a FIRST alum.

Explore FIRST Alumni Resources

Unearth the Possibilities with RTX

DECODE presented by RTX

RTX is committed to expanding and developing a STEM talent pipeline that is prepared to tackle the world’s toughest challenges. Through team funding, employee volunteerism, meaningful mentorship, and program and event support, RTX partners with FIRST to give students the tools for success.

Improving Image Quality

RTX is designing the next Landsat space instruments for NASA to improve image quality, a technology capability also used by archaeologists.

See How

100 Years of Innovation

100 years ago Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, began building jet engines. Watch 100 years of era-defining innovation as they push the boundaries of aviation to shape human flight.

Watch

Internships that Make a Difference

RTX is looking for bright, innovative minds to help them define the future of aerospace and defense.

See Internships

Digging into Future Technologies

FIRST AGE presented by Qualcomm

The FIRST AGE season will mark 20 years of FIRST and Qualcomm working together to inspire you as young innovators. We are so proud to continue that partnership as you set out to make history. Just like iterations of your robots, at Qualcomm, every innovation, invention, and new technology – from 5G to ai, tells a story, guiding us to greater ingenuity.

On-Device Artificial Intelligence

Explore how on-device AI fuels a more capable, cost-efficient, reliable, private, secure, and promising path forward. 

Explore

Engineering Human Progress

Discover how Qualcomm is engineering progress to help make lives richer, businesses smarter, and society stronger.

Watch

The Future of Robotics

Uncover how drones and robots will be integrated into our everyday life handling tasks once considered too time-consuming or tedious.

Uncover