Italian esports organisation NOVO Esports has collaborated with the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government to launch a custom Fortnite map promoting the region’s landmarks and culture. This initiative makes Friuli Venezia Giulia the first Italian region to create an official in-game map as part of a digital tourism strategy.
The map, Friuli Venezia Giulia Reload, will be available from 20 September. It features five main locations—Trieste, Udine, Pordenone, Gorizia and Palmanova—recreated in 3D with the game’s distinctive cartoon style, alongside iconic landscapes such as Piancavallo, Tarvisio and the Fusine lakes. Local culinary elements like frico, San Daniele prosciutto and grapes are also included as collectable items within gameplay.
An “always-on” tournament will run on the map, allowing players to compete daily for points. The top ten will face off in a final at Milan Games Week from 28–30 November, with NOVO Esports hosting a dedicated VR experience corner at the event. A major online event on the map is planned for mid-October.
Founded in 2023, NOVO Esports runs seven competitive teams in Italy and internationally. The organisation got international esports business headlines after qualifying to the Esports World Cup 2025 Call of Duty: Warzone tournament, which fostered two other deals also aimed at the tourism industry, partnering with Radisson Hotels and with the Saudi Tourism Authority (Visit Saudi).
