First picture shows F.4.1. Second picture was a Demo, i.e. “what if you buy this and that as config”.
Service introduction of 8x MICA was done with F.4.
Let’s be honest. Gaijin will look at the plane’s performances and might add 2 more missiles considering this proposal where Dassault showed that they could technically have the F3 variant carry 8 missiles.
On the contrary, the game need more arbitrary buff nerf. It’s a game, it needs balancing. 6 missiles in AirRB is a very light loadout. Especially on Rafale who has limited early game impacts due to the range of the MICA. If you go 4+2 IR you simply won’t have any match presence, and if you go full EM you will be very limited in dogfights situation.
The SP3 pylons (which you are reffering to) were added with F.4.1, the pictures in the article also show the C101 testbed, not an actual production aircraft to.
Getting MICA fixed should rather be the goal of everyone, than another frankenstein in form of a Rafale tbh.
I remember the 2009 Paris Air Show, which also showcased the Meteor air-to-air missile. Inside the venue, it didn’t conflict with the first photo, it should have been a model missile mounted on it.
actualy i really think that even the Rafale F3.2 was able to carry up to 8 missiles . it’s just that the french army never really put full missiles loads on it and prefered to use fuel tanks