I believe there were several discussions on a link between the EVs. We always arrived at the same conclusion: The universes are completely separate.
Here's what I remember from why:
- The most obvious reason (as stated by Lonevoinian earlier in the topic) is the fact that the map and system orientations are completely different. There are only a few corresponding systems between the games.
- EVO cannot be the future of EV. According to the dates of the games, EVO takes place about 100 years before EV, making that impossible.
- If EV is the future, what happened to the strand species? Don't tell me they went extinct/killed each other/ect., because that wouldn't make sense. The Miranu made contact with humans in EVO, yet in EV, the only alien species found was the unnamed one that attacked the humans (Voinians have a name, too).
- In EV, the stray Alien after the Great War goes to the Serpens Nebula, which EVO lacks.
- The Outfits and Ships are dramatically different, even for 100 years.
- As far as Sajek's Plague goes, I think it's possible for two parallel human races to eventually encounter the same disease. That, or Matt Burch just adopted a few missions from EV into EVO.
There are a couple other reasons as well.
It'd be cool, but unfortunately, it just doesn't work out.