Is there any OFFICIAL source that clarifies why monsters from spin-offs like Frontier, Online, or Explore almost never appear in the Mainline?
(Besides speculation about copyright and how these monsters 'don't fit' in the Mainline)
Speaking solely of design, although in World it's more realistic and serious, in Rise it receives a completely different model, much more faithful to the original, despite looking more cartoonish compared to other monsters of the generation...
Another interesting detail is that while MHNow received the design of World:IB, Stories 3 received the modeling of Rise.
Furthermore, with the announcement of its victory as the favorite monster, it received a new render different from the two models already presented, but which is much closer to that of World:IB.
(Credits: u/AJC_10_29)