BF6 IAR (DRS-IAR) role clarity and gameplay identity feedback

Hello Battlefield Team,

First of all, thank you for the continued updates and balance work on Battlefield 6. I’ve been enjoying the game overall and wanted to share some focused feedback on the DRS-IAR, based on extended in-game use.

After spending time with the DRS-IAR, I feel its current gameplay identity is somewhat unclear. It sits between an assault rifle and a light machine gun, but doesn’t fully excel in either role, which makes it difficult to justify over other options.

My current experience with the DRS-IAR:

• ADS speed and movement feel closer to an LMG than a rifle
• Hip-fire accuracy is quite limited, even with laser attachments
• Reload speed is slower than expected given its AR-style magazine system
• Sustained fire capability doesn’t match true LMGs, while flexibility doesn’t match ARs

Because of this, the weapon often feels like it can “do a bit of everything, but not enough of anything,” especially in close-quarters situations where both ADS speed and hip-fire matter most.

I tried thinking about this from a player-experience and role-clarity perspective, and came up with three possible design directions that might help the DRS-IAR find a clearer identity. These are not demands—just ideas that accept trade-offs:

     1. High accuracy + strong hip-fire (slow ADS)

‧Lean into stability and control

‧Allow confident close-range defense via hip-fire

‧Accept slower ADS as a trade-off

     2. High accuracy + faster ADS (weaker hip-fire)

‧Emphasize precision and responsiveness

‧Let ADS speed compensate in close encounters

‧Keep hip-fire as a deliberate weakness

     3. Lower long-range accuracy, but faster ADS + better hip-fire

‧Shift the DRS-IAR closer to an assault-rifle role

‧Sacrifice sustained precision for versatility and aggression

Any one of these directions (rather than a partial mix of all three) might help the DRS-IAR feel more intentional and readable in moment-to-moment gameplay.

I understand balance constraints and broader sandbox considerations, so I fully appreciate that changes may not be possible or desired. I simply wanted to share this perspective, as I enjoy the platform the DRS-IAR represents and would love to see it occupy a clearer niche within the weapon roster.

Thank you for taking the time to read, and for your continued work on the game.

Best regards,
Kerwin