Unity Ads works by using an open auction system where advertisers bid in real-time for the opportunity to display an ad within your game.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
The Unity Ads Auction Explained
The core of how Unity Ads functions lies in its automated auction process. Every time your game requests an ad, Unity Ads holds an open auction for advertisers to bid on your impression. This happens almost instantly in the background.
Steps in the Ad Delivery Process
- Ad Request: When your game reaches a point where an ad is set to display (e.g., after a level is completed, or a reward is offered), it sends a request to the Unity Ads network.
- Open Auction: Unity Ads initiates an open auction for that specific ad placement (the "impression").
- Advertiser Bidding: Numerous advertisers compete by submitting bids, indicating how much they are willing to pay for that particular impression.
- Highest Bidder Wins: The advertiser who submits the highest bid wins the auction.
- Ad Delivery: The ad from the winning advertiser is then delivered and displayed within your game.
Understanding Impression Types and Revenue
Advertisers don't just bid on any impression; they can bid on different types of impressions. This might include:
- Rewarded Video Ads: Players watch a video ad in exchange for an in-game reward.
- Interstitial Ads: Full-screen ads that appear at natural breaks in the game flow.
- Banner Ads: Ads displayed in a fixed area of the screen.
Bidding on various impression types allows advertisers to reach specific audiences or achieve particular goals, while for developers, it helps provide a diverse source of revenue streams.
Revenue for Developers
Game developers earn revenue based on these auctions. When an ad is successfully displayed to a player (a successful impression), the developer receives a portion of the winning bid amount paid by the advertiser. The higher the bids in the auction, potentially the higher the revenue generated per impression.
In essence, Unity Ads connects advertisers who want to reach mobile game players with developers who have ad space, facilitating the transaction through a real-time bidding auction.
