outofuniverse

Outofuniverse is a term used primarily in fan discourse and media studies to describe content, concepts, or settings that exist outside a defined universe or canon. The term can refer to two related concepts: first, meta-contexts or fictional constructs that sit outside the boundaries of an in-universe world, such as stories about the creation of a universe or crossovers that deliberately depart from canonical rules; second, materials produced outside official canon—such as behind-the-scenes documents, director’s commentary, or promotional materials—that influence interpretation but are not considered in-universe events.

In fiction, outofuniverse elements may be used to explore authorial intent, to comment on storytelling, or to enable metafiction. In fan communities, it can describe works or discussions that treat the work as a discourse rather than a single, self-contained narrative reality. The concept is also discussed in media and game studies as a way to analyze how audiences construct meaning from material that sits outside or beside the main storyline.

Examples commonly cited in discussions include metafictional novels that acknowledge their status as art, documentary or developer-commentary materials attached to games, and fan wikis or discussions that foreground creator perspectives or production contexts as a form of outside-the-canon content. The term remains relatively specialized and its exact scope can vary across communities.

See also: metafiction, canon, multiverse, cosmology, authorial intent.