High crash rates caused by admob on instant games

[John Dipupo]

Unity version: 2020.3.30f1
Google Mobile Ads Unity plugin version: 8.6.0
Plugin installation method: .unitypackage import
Platform: Android
Platform OS version: All android versions
Any specific devices issue occurs on: Google Pixel 7a, Samsung Galaxy S21 5G
Mediation ad networks used, and their versions: None

Started seeing high crash rates (2-3%) at the beginning of last month on google play console which has been slowly going up and as at October 31st was now at 50%, so i had to remove admob ads and started working on the issue locally. I didn't change anything on my end. I started testing my game locally with test ads and i discovered that once a bannner ad gets requested with the LoadAd() function, it shows a black banner with "test ads" tag and then the game crashes. Same thing happens for rewarded ads. THE CRASH SEEMS TO ONLY OCCUR ON INSTANT PLAY VERSIONS OF MY GAME.

Steps to reproduce:
Import the Google Mobile ads package and the Google Play Instant plugin into a project, build an instant play version and request an ad.

This is the link to the .zip file of a sample project I created --> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eQHhu3GGms1AYZ2Y3kgr6bAIlCEgsej1/view?usp=sharing

You can test it from the Editor by going to File > Build and Run
Built with Unity v2020.3.30f1, Unity Google Mobile Ads Plugin v8.6.0 (22.5.0), Instant Play Plugin v1.7.0

This issue is not peculiar to the Unity Mobile Ads Plugin, it also occurs if Android Studio is used to build the instant app, as seen here --> https://groups.google.com/g/google-admob-ads-sdk/c/-YXoghWz6J4

PLEASE, HELP US RESOLVE THIS ISSUE ASAP. IT'S A BACKEND ISSUE FROM ADMOB! WE'RE LOSING MONEY BECAUSE OF THIS!!!

Stack trace
java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'boolean android.app.KeyguardManager.isDeviceLocked()' on a null object reference
at com.google.android.gms.ads.omid.library.walking.e.run(:com.google.android.gms.policy_ads_fdr_dynamite@243799214@243799204017.685849251.685849251:615)
at android.os.Handler.handleCallback(Handler.java:959)
at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:100)
at android.os.Looper.loopOnce(Looper.java:232)
at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:317)
at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:8705)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
at com.android.internal.os.RuntimeInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(RuntimeInit.java:580)
at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:886)

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi John,

Thank you for contacting the Mobile Ads SDK Support Team.

I will check with our team regarding your query and one of my team members will reach out to you once we have an update on this. Meanwhile, your patience is highly appreciated. 

This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!5004Q02vGjj8:ref" (ADR-00275452)

Thanks,
 

Mobile Ads SDK Team

[John Dipupo]

You keep copy-pasting the same message back to me since last week. FIX THE DAMN ISSUE!!!

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi John,

Your concern is under investigation, i will update once get any update on this. Meanwhile, your patience is important.
Thanks
 

This message is in relation to case "ref:!00D1U01174p.!5004Q02vGjj8:ref" (ADR-00275452)

Thanks,
 

Mobile Ads SDK Team

Feedback
How was our support today?

               

[John Dipupo]

PLEASE, MAKE THIS  A TOP PRIORITY ISSUE, A LOT OF DEVELOPERS AND USERS ARE BEING AFFECTED BY THIS!!!

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi,

Your concern is currently under investigation and we have no updates to provide at this time. One of my team members will reach out to you once we have an update on this. Meanwhile, your patience is highly appreciated.

[John Dipupo]

IF IT WERE GOOGLE ITSELF LOSING MONEY, I'M SURE THIS WOULD BE FIXED IN HOURS!!!

[John Dipupo]

WHAT'S THE UPDATE ON THIS?. 

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi John,

Thank you for getting back to us.

Your concern is still under investigation, so we will inform you once we have an update.

[John Dipupo]

ARE WE GOING TO BE COMPENSATED FOR AD REVENUE LOST?. IT'S OUTRAGEOUS THAT THIS HASN'T BEEN FIXED AND WE'RE JUST LEFT TO BE LOSING MONEY!!!

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi,

We are in the process of following up with the team regarding your inquiry. Once we receive any updates, we will intimate you. Meanwhile, your patience is important.  

[John Dipupo]

WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG TO FIX THIS PRESSING ISSUE???. YOU'VE RUINED OUR BUSINESSES!!!

[Younus Shalaby]

I’m experiencing the SAME ISSUE! Crash rates have significantly increased (2-3%) since last month, reaching 50% as of October 31st, forcing me to remove AdMob ads. The game crashes when loading test ads, showing a black banner with "test ads," this only happens in Instant Play versions.

This is impacting our revenue, and we need a quick resolution.

Please address this issue as soon as possible!

[Younus Shalaby]

I’m experiencing the same issue! Crash rates have significantly increased (2-3%) since last month, reaching 50% as of October 31st, forcing me to remove AdMob ads. The game crashes when loading test ads, showing a black banner with "test ads," this only happens in Instant Play versions.

This is impacting our revenue, and we need a quick resolution.

Please address this issue as soon as possible!

On Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 4:40:31 AM UTC+2 John Dipupo wrote:

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi,

Currently there is no update at this time Once we receive any updates, we will intimate you. Meanwhile, your patience is important.

[ksvslk]

The problem exists and indeed started a few months ago. No support from here. Unbearable for players and developers. Merry Christmas!

[John Dipupo]

EVEN AFTER REMOVING ADMOB FROM MY GAMES SINCE NOVEMBER 1, THE CRASH RATES ARE STILL ABOVE THE GOOGLE PLAY THRESHOLD, FURTHER AFFECTING MY GAME DOWNLOADS. YOUR BUGGY SDK IS RUINING EVERYTHING I'VE BUILT FOR YEARS, FIX IT NOW!!!

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi,

I will check with our team regarding your query and one of my team members will reach out to you once we have an update on this. Meanwhile, your patience is highly appreciated.

[John Dipupo]

IF YOU HAD TAKEN A FEW SECONDS TO READ THE PREVIOUS MESSAGES, YOU'D HAVE KNOWN THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE OCTOBER, YOU DON'T NEED TO COPY-PASTE NONSENSE BACK TO ME. LAZINESS AND INCOMPETENCY AT IT'S FINEST!

[Mobile Ads SDK Forum Advisor]

Hi,

This issue is currently under investigation. I will update you once i get any update on this. Meanwhile, your patience is important.

[John Dipupo]

SEVERAL USERS ARE COMPLAINING NOW, EVEN ON GOOGLE PLAY STORE!!! FIX THIS ISSUE ALREADY, IS IT THAT HARD???

[ksvslk]

What is the situation on this? Is it fixed?

[John Dipupo]

JANUARY 2, 2025 AND THIS ISSUE REMAINS UNFIXED. I'VE NOW SWITCHED TO UNITY ADS, AS IT HAS BECOME OBVIOUS THAT GOOGLE IS UNABLE TO FIX THEIR OWN SDK ISSUE. YOU SHOULD DELETE THIS PAGE - https://developers.google.com/admob/android/instant-apps AS IT'S NO LONGER RELEVANT. STOP DECEIVING NEW DEVELOPERS WITH A BUGGY SDK AND FIRE YOUR LAZY ENGINEERS!!!

[Zauzau Francis]

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[Zauzau Francis]

Enoch Francis  invites you to earn money together! No investment required, everyone can withdraw money! -> https://www.freeagqstar.top/p?0129797803862207069&s=mail someone has just cash out today

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[Zauzau Francis]

Enoch Francis  invites you to earn money together! No investment required, everyone can withdraw money! -> https://www.freeagqstar.top/p?0129797803862207069&s=mail someone has just cash out today

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[Zauzau Francis]

Enoch Francis  invites you to earn money together! No investment required, everyone can withdraw money! -> https://www.freeagqstar.top/p?0129797803862207069&s=mail someone has just cash out today

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[Zauzau Francis]

Enoch Francis  invites you to earn money together! No investment required, everyone can withdraw money! -> https://www.freeagqstar.top/p?0129797803862207069&s=mail someone has just cash out today

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