Dragon Ball GT has always been in a slightly precarious position, like a string of Dragon Ball which was not based on the work of Akira Toriyama, but this situation only became more controversial with the creation of Dragon Ball Super. While Super is ostensibly defined before GTthe two series just don't work well together on the continuity front.
Dragon Ball Super expanded the world of Dragon Ball dramatically, adding powerful new god-like characters like Beerus and Whis, revealing the existence of a multiverse, and allowing Goku and Vegeta to ascend to levels of power that almost put them on par with these gods. From a chronological perspective, one would expect these characters and abilities to play a role GTbut this is simply not the case. Since things like Super Saiyan God didn't exist when GT was done, they were not considered. This makes it seem like Goku and Vegeta have taken a huge step back in power if we look at it. Super before GT.
Is Dragon Ball GT Canon in the other series?
The canonicity of GT is hotly debated
According to Toei Animation, Dragon Ball GT is in fact canon to the other series. However, Toei is not the only authority on the subject. Akira Toriyama himself considered GT a “side story” and not a canonical continuation of his manga, although he approved of its realization. Even before Supermany fans did not consider GT be a valid sequel for this reason, as well as a general distaste for the content of GT. After Superhowever, it seems most fans consider the continuity issues between the two to be irreconcilable, meaning a series needs to be wrapped up.
Since Super was produced with the involvement of Akira Toriyama, most fans tend to include it as canon, excluding GTdespite GT came first. There are, of course, supporters who consider GT better than Superalthough they are few and far between. Fans of GT Naturally, I don't want to see his series ripped from the canon, and sometimes it attacks Super to create continuity problems. And Toei, as the producers of Dragon Ball anime, are reluctant to decanonize GTfearing anger from those fans and also generally not wanting to give the idea that GT can or should be ignored.
On the other hand, Super evolved in such a way that GT following it became unsustainable. Characters like Pan have already started to develop in a different direction than GT welcomes them, and that's without getting into Goku and Vegeta. And, how Super gets closer and closer to the beginning GTthese differences become increasingly important. At a certain point, Super will force the question of GTcanonicity upon achieving it.
Dragon Ball Super already offered a solution for GT
A multiverse explanation could justify the existence of GT
There is an option to keep GT canon without interfering Superhowever: have the two series set on different timelines. Dragon Ball Super It has already been established that there are multiple timelines, which can be reached using special Time Rings available to the Kai. Just set GT on a timeline and Super in another, and the two can coexist without either being reduced to non-canonical status. In fact, this exact solution has already been used by Dragon Ball games and the Super Dragon Ball Heroes manga and anime, where the Super Saiyan 4 versions of Goku and Vegeta are considered “Xeno” versions.
This automatically eliminates all continuity problems between the two series, as one no longer needs to lead into the other. Doing GT an alternative universe for Super even means that concepts of GTas Super Saiyan 4, it can still be used in Super timeline, as logically they must still exist, but it does not bring the baggage of continuity of GT and your character development with it. Wouldn't necessarily GT inferior in some way; it's just a different timeline, both futures equally valid for Dragon Ball Z.
Dragon Ball GT's Continuity Issues May Never Be Properly Resolved
Problems with Dragon Ball GT could last for some time
Doing Super and GT mutually exclusive sequences, placing GT in an alternate universe might solve the problem cleanly, but there are still reasons why Toei might be hesitant to do so. Putting GT in an alternate timeline makes it appear that the events of GT It doesn’t matter, just as decanonization would. It's hard to fight the idea that an alternate timeline is somehow secondary, and the GT the timeline would become inherently secondary due to new material being added to the Supertimeline constantly.
Adding alternative timelines also risks bringing confusion to the fanbase. While the idea of the two series being set in different continuities is simple enough, this is unusual for a series, and many newer or less engaged fans may not understand how this is supposed to work. Essentially the only way to learn GT is a separate continuity of Super it would be someone telling them, as there would be nothing in the text to support this idea. This kind of confusion runs the risk of newer fans becoming confused and tuning out, which is absolutely not something Toei wants.
As such, it seems that the most advantageous situation for Toei is the one we find ourselves in now: pretending GT it's still canon and doesn't recognize the many ways in which it can't be. This is unfortunate for fans, as ignoring continuity issues won't make them go away. For this reason, it is unlikely that Toei will clarify the GT situation of continuity soon, although, as noted above, new Super films that get closer and closer GTThe start of may eventually force the problem.
Dragon Ball GT represents a real problem for Dragon Ball fans, but it is unlikely that this problem will be officially resolved, despite the existence of solutions that could easily please all groups involved.