SDKs and Mediation
Mar 20, 2025
Integrating SDKs and Mediation Adapters in Mobile Games
As a mobile game developer, integrating SDKs (Software Development Kits) and mediation adapters is a crucial part of monetizing and expanding the functionality of your games. Over the years, I’ve worked with several SDKs including AdMob, AppLovin, Meta Audience Network, Unity Ads, and Firebase, and have set up multiple mediation layers to optimize ad revenue across our games.
In this blog, I’ll walk you through a structured approach to integrating SDKs and mediation adapters into your mobile games using Unity, and how you can avoid common pitfalls.
Step 1: Planning Your SDK Stack
Before diving into the code, it’s essential to plan which SDKs you’ll be integrating based on your game's needs. For monetization, you may consider:
Ad SDKs: AdMob, AppLovin, Unity Ads, Meta Audience Network
Analytics: Firebase, GameAnalytics
Crash Reporting: Firebase Crashlytics
Remote Config and A/B Testing: Firebase Remote Config
Make sure to also review documentation for version compatibility between SDKs and Unity versions.
Step 2: Setting Up Your Project
Start with a clean and updated Unity project. It’s better to integrate one SDK at a time to isolate any issues during the build or runtime.
Open Unity Editor.
Set your platform (iOS or Android).
Update your Gradle settings and minimum SDK version as required by the ad networks.
Step 3: Import SDKs via Unity Package Manager or External Downloads
Some SDKs are available via Unity's Package Manager, while others require manual downloads from their official sites:
Download the Unity packages or .aar/.framework files for Android and iOS.
Import them into the
Assets/Plugins/folder appropriately.
Use official guides to prevent missing dependencies.
Step 4: Integrate SDK Code
Initialize the SDK in a bootstrap script (usually on game launch).
Set up required permissions in
AndroidManifest.xmlorInfo.plist.Configure ad placements, ad units, and callbacks for rewarded, interstitial, and banner ads.
Keep your initialization modular and maintainable for easy debugging and upgrades.
Step 5: Set Up Mediation
Mediation layers help you earn better revenue by serving ads from multiple networks based on bidding and waterfall strategies.
Choose a mediation provider (e.g., AdMob or AppLovin MAX).
Follow documentation to integrate mediation adapters.
Link your game with respective dashboards.
Test using test ad units and verify each network is serving ads.
Step 6: Testing and Debugging
Use test modes for each network.
Use logging to capture initialization states and ad callbacks.
Validate build with logcat (Android) or Xcode console (iOS).
Step 7: Optimization and Maintenance
Monitor ad performance on dashboards.
Adjust waterfall or bidding strategies as per revenue performance.
Keep SDKs updated periodically to avoid deprecated issues or security flaws.
Final Thoughts
Integrating SDKs and mediation adapters can be overwhelming at first, but once you understand the structure, it becomes a routine part of game development. Always rely on official documentation and keep your integration modular for long-term maintainability. Each integration teaches you something new—not just about code, but also about how mobile games are run as businesses.
