Custom Mapbox Style Not Applying in Unity SDK, Works Correctly in Web (iframe)

[subhanahmed0]

Description
When using a custom Mapbox style in the Unity SDK, the style does not apply correctly (or falls back to the default style). However, the same style works as expected when loaded via a Mapbox iframe on the web.

This suggests a possible issue with style compatibility, loading, or configuration specific to the Unity SDK.

Steps to Reproduce
Create a custom style in Mapbox Studio.
Publish the style.
Copy the style URL (e.g. mapbox://styles/username/style_id).

In Unity:
Use the Mapbox Unity SDK
Assign the custom style URL to the map’s Style field
Run the scene.

Expected Behavior
The map in Unity should render using the custom Mapbox style, matching the appearance seen on the web.

Actual Behavior
The custom style is not applied in Unity:
The map either renders black map
The style partially loads / fails silently
The same style URL renders correctly when used in a web iframe.

Environment
Unity Version: (6000.0.43f1)
Mapbox Unity SDK Version: (v2.1.1)
Platform: (Editor)
OS: (macOS Sonoma)

Style Details
Style created in Mapbox Studio
Style visibility set to Public
Style URL format: mapbox://styles/...
Works correctly in web iframe

[brnkhy]

@subhanahmed0 this can be a number of things. first of all I'm not able to help much with older v2.1.1 anymore as we are switching to v3 now. I might suggest trying it out if you aren't too deep in your project (actually even then it might be a good idea, v2.1.1 will not get much support moving on).
if this is a new style you created in mapbox studio, it might be the compatibility issue of studio and static api. this isn't really a unity sdk bug but we are directly affected by it. when you create a new standard style and try to use it in unity sdk, you'll get black textures because of this issue. if you create blank style and then add components (like buildings, roads etc) from top left menu, and use that style in sdk; you should get the correct textures. can you. give that a shot?

[subhanahmed0]

@brnkhy

Thanks for the suggestion. I’ve updated to Mapbox Unity SDK v3, but unfortunately the issue still persists.

The custom style still does not apply in Unity, while the same style continues to work correctly when loaded via a web iframe. Default Mapbox styles load without any issues in Unity.

Please let me know if there are any additional steps, known limitations with custom styles in SDK v3, or specific style features/layers that are not supported in Unity.

Happy to provide logs, a minimal repro project, or style details if that helps.

[brnkhy]

I mistakenly said create blank but can you try creating a basic style and test via start from scratch button. again once you have a blank sheet you should be able to add stuff very fast using + button and components menu there.

[subhanahmed0]

@brnkhy

Still not working.
I also tested with a completely blank custom style created in Mapbox Studio, and the issue persists.

[subhanahmed0]

@brnkhy one thing i noticed is that when i zoom in or out the map tiles update to new style i have cleared cache before playing though.
here is the video
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/63b9c81d-9a17-456d-a91c-b1a6d424b069

[brnkhy]

@subhanahmed0 that's interesting and definitely looks like a cache issue. You used the mapbox menu at top bar to clear cache, right? I guess z15 tiles (first loaded group) might be cached on server-side and it might get fixed in a few hours. I'll think what else might be wrong and will let you know if I find something

[subhanahmed0]

@brnkhy yes i have used the mapbox menu at top bar to clear cache and also cleared it from app support still after 16 hours the map still not updating to latest map of blue colour. Buildings are still pink and i have cleared cache before starting game today.

[brnkhy]

@subhanahmed0 but it's not black tiles anymore, is that correct? if it's not black tiles and some sort of color; I don't think it's a bug but it's still most likely server-side caching. maybe you can clone the style (after chances) and try with new style id (just once to see how it behaves), that shouldn't be cached 🤔

[subhanahmed0]

@brnkhy yes it is not black anymore. i did what you suggested i have cloned the style and use after clearing cache but still blue ground with pink buildings. (blue is the new map colour and pink was the old colour)

[brnkhy]

@subhanahmed0 then I'm lost at this point as well. I can't think of a technical explanation (for receiving pink textures) other than server-side caching.
maybe it's something smaller, like you didn't publish the new style?

[subhanahmed0]

@brnkhy Can you try to reproduce this on your end? i just cloned the sdk3 branch and i am using location game scene in samples folder and just updated source type to custom and added map URL to custom source id in StaticApiLayerModuleScript and same with VectorLayerModuleScript. Yes i have published all the map style i have created.

[brnkhy]

@subhanahmed0
same with VectorLayerModuleScript
If I understand that part correct, you shouldn't be doing that. but somehow you are getting the buildings in those screenshots? so I probably got what you meant wrong...
Of course I can try it some time but I'm currently tied up with other stuff so cannot do it soon.

as an idea; can you try your style here and see what comes up; https://docs.mapbox.com/playground/static/?style=%5Bobject+Object%5D

edit: also if you move around, like change latlng and run app again for example, do you get new or old textures?

[subhanahmed0]

@brnkhy i was not changing VectorLayerModuleScript before i will keep it has it is because buildings are not showing when i change it. And when i use https://docs.mapbox.com/playground/static/?style=%5Bobject+Object%5D with my URL it says
message:"Style not found"
And when i move the player i get black ground.

edit: when i change style to satellite

[brnkhy]

@subhanahmed0 black textures again implies your latest style might be incompatible with static api again. that might be the reason cache isn't updated either. but no that doesn't makes sense because you are getting blue map when you zoom... zooming and moving should technically be same.
I'm afraid I have nothing else, I'll have to look into it as soon as I find some time.

[subhanahmed0]

@brnkhy can you tell me if i can you use Mapbox dark source type but i want to remove street labels and building labels how can i achieve that?