History Main / CrossoverAlternateUniverse

* The ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' games are basically this as the settings of each game are tailor-made to accommodate all the series in any given game's roster. This is especially highlighted with how the games utilize [[Franchise/Gundam Gundam]] shows from the Universal Century timeline, as they tend to feature characters from shows that are canonically set years, or even ''decades'', apart from one another. For example, in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsGC'', [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Kamille]] and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Judau]] are seen taking part in [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam the One-Year War]], and ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsAlpha Super Robot Wars Alpha 1]]'' features a take on [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam the Gryps Conflict]] featuring characters ranging from the "One-Year War" era [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080War

Usually (but not always), the universe isn't used again after the crossover finishes. Subtrope of {{Alternate Universe}}.

* This technique is used whenever a crossover happens between Creator/MarvelComics and Creator/DCComics. Most notable is the ''ComicBook/AmalgamUniverse''.
** Speaking of Marvel and DC, at first every comic book was its own story with its own universe, each being an anthology series. Neither company had originally planned to create a SharedUniverse. Then the stories started colliding, creating superhero teams such as the ''ComicBook/JusticeLeague'' and the ''ComicBook/{{Avengers}}''.
** In the commentary for the collectors' edition of ''ComicBook/JLAAvengers'', which ''doesn't'' use this trope, the universe where all the non-dimension-hopping-involving crossovers was set was called "[[MoneyDearBoy Earth-$]]".

* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' takes place in a universe where Creator/{{Disney}} and Creator/SquareEnix universes collide. Specifically, the implication is that nearly every entry of the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon, most Creator/{{Pixar}} films, films and features falling outside of either category (ex. ''WesternAnimation/TheNightmareBeforeChristmas'', ''WesternAnimation/MickeyDonaldGoofyTheThreeMusketeers''), and even live-action movies like ''Film/{{TRON}}'' and ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' [[MegaCrossover are connected on the Disney side]]. Square's side of the crossover is currently more limited, mainly consisting of AU versions of various ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' characters (with the possible exception of [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX Auron]] in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', hinted to be a younger version pulled from a point in time prior to ''FFX''). Additionally, the cast of ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'' play a supporting role in ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance Dream Drop Distance]]'' and elements from ''VideoGame/{{Einhander}}'' made their way into the Gummi Ship segments of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'' (including two enemies appearing as {{Bonus Boss}}es).

*** The final episodes of the show also mention a "Super Sentai World" where ALL the shows take place that is distinctively different from the Gokaiger world. It's also mentioned in side material that even though every team has a world where they were the major team in it, it doesn't necessarily mean other Sentai teams didn't also happen in the backstory, ranging from Kiramager having Gekiranger to Zyuohger having Gokaiger and thus all the other teams as well. The sequel, Donbrothers also throws in the idea of other universes having alternate versions of previous Sentai characters with Zenkaiser Black, an AU of Zenkaiger's main character Kaito with a distinctly different personalty as a supporting character.

** ''Series/KikaiSentaiZenkaiger'', which does away with the long-standing SharedUniverse concept to give each Sentai their own universe, strongly hints that the world of ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'', which was rooted in the SharedUniverse more than any other, is one of these; a recurring depiction of all the ''Super Sentai'' universes in ''Zenkaiger'' has them being represented by team images (as pictured above), the Gokaigers' showing them standing in front of all their predecessors. This indicates that the ''Gokaiger'' world has its own versions of the first 34 Super Sentai, justifiable since ''Gokaiger'' itself hinges on their existence. This was later expanded to include post-''Gokaiger'' Sentai, with the 10th anniversary ReunionShow ''Film/KaizokuSentaiTenGokaiger'' affirming the existence of the 9 Sentai succeeding the Gokaigers.

* Though originally intended to be canon, later instalments of the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' and ''Franchise/{{Predator}}'' franchise ignore the two ''Film/AlienVsPredator'' movies. Creator/RidleyScott deliberately contradicted them when writing the backstory to ''Film/{{Alien}}'' prequel, ''Film/{{Prometheus}}''. WordOfGod say that ''Film/{{Predators}}'' ignores every previous movie in the franchise bar [[Film/{{Predator}} the original]].

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', particularly the story modes in ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl Brawl]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate Ultimate]]'', establish a universe where all the Nintendo characters (plus [[VideoGame/MetalGear Snake]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Cloud]], [[Franchise/{{Castlevania}} the Belmonts]], [[GuestFighter etc.]]) co-exist in the same universe. Even more extreme in ''Ultimate'', where ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'', ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' and ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' characters are drawn from different points in their own continuities' timeline. [[note]]''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath of the Wild]]'' Link, ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'' Toon Link, ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]'' Young Link, ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'' Ganondorf and Sheik, and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds Link Between Worlds]]'' Zelda, Richter and Simon are both the same age, and Marth co-existing with his descendants Lucina and Chrom[[/note]] While it was hinted before, in one of ''Ultimate''[='s=] pre-release streams, [[Creator/MasahiroSakurai Sakurai]] [[WordOfGod confirmed]] that the characters in the ''Smash Bros.'' games are toys in the realm of imagination.

* This [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdPXC4UCSSwHojxa1avDzmvLN9_lwqDPr series of videos]] show what if the [[Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse DC]] and [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse Marvel]] share the same cinematic universe.

* This [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdPXC4UCSSwHojxa1avDzmvLN9_lwqDPr series of videos]] explaining how the [[Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse DCEU]] and the [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse MCU]] could share the same universe.

* This [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdPXC4UCSSwHojxa1avDzmvLN9_lwqDPr series of videos]] explaining how the Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse and the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse share the same universe.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crossover_continuity_7.png]]
[[caption-width-right:350:With great power, comes great discontinuity.]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Series/KikaiSentaiZenkaiger https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vlcsnap_2021_03_09_15h21m16s243.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:In a {{multiverse}} of ''[[Franchise/SuperSentai Super]] {{Sentai}}'', [[Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger one world]] must be [[SharedUniverse shared]].]]

Some {{crossover}}s start a storyline in one piece of media and finish it in another. Others bring existing characters to the same place. A crossover alternate universe is where a universe is created solely for the purpose of a bringing together characters for whom the above two options aren't available.

* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'' is set in a universe where ''Creator/{{Disney}}'', ''Creator/WarnerBros'' and other cartoon characters coexist with each other and live-action humans. The toons are now AnimatedActors who star in filmed cartoons.

* ''Franchise/SuperSentai''
** ''Series/HikoninSentaiAkibaranger'', the main characters, who are ''Super Sentai'' fans, can create a delusional universe where every ''Super Sentai'' team exists.
** ''Series/KikaiSentaiZenkaiger'', which does away with the long-standing SharedUniverse concept to give each Sentai their own universe, strongly hints that the world of ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'', which was rooted in the SharedUniverse more than any other, is one of these; a recurring depiction of all the Sentai Worlds has them being represented by team images, the Gokaigers' showing them standing in front of all their predecessors. This indicates that the Gokaiger World has their own versions of the first 34 Super Sentai, justifiable since ''Gokaiger'' itself hinges on their existence. It may also include post-''Gokaiger'' Sentai, since the various crossovers since then, most notably ''[[Series/FourWeekContinuousSuperSentaiStrongestBattle Super Sentai Strongest Battle]]'', had to have happened somewhere.

* It appears that in ''WebAnimation/SonicForHire'', the universes of ''every'' video game in existence co-exist with each other. While for the most part, the characters featured in the series stick to the roles they have in their original games, there are numerous other characters who have grown out of their respective roles. For starters, the eponymous [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]] is now living in an apartment and has to resort to finding jobs to make ends meet. Additionally, Knuckles is the owner of a VideoGame/BurgerTime restaurant, Eggman is less evil, and [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]] is now a mob boss.

* ''Series/SuperSentai''

* ''Series/HikoninSentaiAkibaranger'', the main characters can create a delusional universe where every Super Sentai team exists.

* ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'' and [[VideoGame/Injustice2 its sequel]] both take place in one of the DC lore's many unaccounted for alternate universes.

* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'' is set in a universe where ''Creator/{{Disney}}'', ''Creator/WarnerBros'' and other cartoon characters coexist with eachother and live action humans. The toons are now AnimatedActors who star in filmed cartoons.

* The "Capcom Universe" in which [[MergedReality every Capcom series exists in the same setting]], separated only by time and space. It was officially created for ''Capcom Fighting Jam'' and is the setting used for all Videogame/CapComVs games following it...although plot developments suggest there are in fact multiples of this "Capcom universe" or that NegativeContinuity is in affect.

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', particularly the story modes in ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl Brawl]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate Ultimate]]'', establish a universe where all the Nintendo characters (plus [[VideoGame/MetalGear Snake]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Cloud]], [[Franchise/{{Castlevania}} the Belmonts]], [[GuestFighter etc.]]) co-exist in the same universe. Even more extreme in ''Ultimate'', where ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' and ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' characters are drawn from different points in their own continuities' timeline. [[note]]''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath of the Wild]]'' Link, ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Wind Waker]]'' Toon Link, ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]'' Young Link, ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'' Ganondorf and Sheik, and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds Link Between Worlds]]'' Zelda, and Richter and Simon are both the same age[[/note]] While it was hinted before, in one of ''Ultimate''[='s=] pre-release streams, [[Creator/MasahiroSakurai Sakurai]] [[WordOfGod confirmed]] that the characters in the ''Smash Bros.'' games are toys in the realm of imagination.

* The "Capcom Universe" in which every [=CapCom=] series exists in the same setting, separated only by time and space. It was officially created for ''[=CapCom=] Fighting Jam'' and is the setting used for all Videogame/CapComVs games following it...although plot developments suggest there are in fact multiples of this "[=CapCom=] universe" or that NegativeContinuity is in affect.