The major version 5 of PyMoDAQ consists mostly in the splitting of various base features that could be worthwhile using as independant modules such as the data management: pymodaq_data, the widget and user interface bits baser on Qt: pymodaq_gui and then the utils for all this: pymodaq_utils.

Then on the remaining pymodaq original repository remains only things related to instruments, control modules, dashboard and extensions of the dashboard. It has the three other modules as dependency.

For those three new modules, they have been created firstly as forks of the pymodaq original repo then simplified to contain only what they are meant for. I didn't know at that time it would prevent someone to fork them again to work on a PR. I just happened to delete those three repo and recreated them from my local copy. They kept their history but lost the fork relation. They should therefore be "forkable" again.

Finally for your original question: the pymodaq repo itself, should still make any new branch appearing. You just have to tweak a bit your fork for this newly created branch appear: see Git Sync to upstream: Newly created branch not showing in my fork