Near Lyon. These enthusiasts reproduce their city in a video game: “It’s GTA in Trévoux”

Three friends posted online on Sunday January 5, 2025 the result of “more than 5,000 hours” of meticulous work dedicated to their town of Trévoux (Ain) near Lyon, faithfully reproduced by them on the famous video game Fortnite. Everything is 100% free and accessible to everyone.

“Content that doesn’t exist anywhere else”

Few people can boast of having their city of residence reproduced in a video game. Certainly, Los Angeles, Miami and New York have many digital versions that can be explored via Grand Theft Auto (GTA) video games. But it is much more difficult to find an equivalent in France.

At least, that was the case until January 5. Since then, Trévoltians have been able to explore the church of their town of around 7,000 inhabitants and follow the route they take every day, between the Jean-Moulin college, the church, the castle, the campsite… “Y ‘has my bakery, so good,’ even says a shopkeeper who reacts to a video posted on social networks.

“We tried to be as close as possible despite the constraints of the tool,” explains Jordane, a passionate 34-year-old member of the trio behind this technical feat. “It’s content of such quality that it cannot be found anywhere else in the world,” he adds.

“It looks like GTA”

With his friends Jérémy and Mustapha, Jordane studied at length the photos taken on site and satellite images to reproduce the city in the greatest detail. But why Trévoux? “Simply because my friend is from Trévoux! It’s a fairly unusual town, an old medieval town with relief and decorations that you don’t find everywhere,” he explains.

But apart from visiting Trévoux, what can the thirty or so players that it is currently possible to bring together simultaneously on the server do? ” It is an open worldit looks like GTA. You can interact with others thanks to local chat, and everyone can create their content according to their desires. There, it’s a bit like war, it’s shooting at each other. »

Those nostalgic for the Cascades leisure center can even relive their memories there. “We saw couples chatting there all evening, there was something really improbable,” laughs Jordane.

A project that is only just beginning

The three friends don’t plan to stop there. For them, if the publication of this virtual reproduction is the culmination of a long work, “it is only the beginning” of another.

The goal is to make updates to continue adding content. We want it to live, for there to be people constantly and for us to make Trévoux known to the whole world. On this map, we will create other types of games, such as car races, a mode dedicated to “roleplay” (role play, Editor’s note)…

Starting from a delirium between friends, the project is bearing fruit and exceeds the expectations of its creators. “We have already collected donations when we didn’t expect it at all,” says Jordane. However, he promises: “It will remain 100% free. »

To access it, download Fortnite (available on consoles, PCs and smartphones) and enter this personalized key allowing access to the server dedicated to “Trévoux Online”: 6230-4473-2609.

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