File too large failure after from 2.2.1 upgrading to 2.8.1

[GC-Xi]

Describe the bug

We are getting the following error after upgrading from 2.2.1 to 2.8.1

Uploading mapping file: 65% complete
Uploading mapping file: 97% complete
Mapping file upload complete
> Task :app:publishReleaseApk FAILED
> Task :commitEditForComDotGcDotTeammanager
FAILURE: Build failed with an exception.
* What went wrong:
Execution failed for task ':app:publishReleaseApk'.
> A failure occurred while executing com.github.triplet.gradle.play.tasks.PublishApk$Processor
   > There was a failure while executing work items
      > A failure occurred while executing com.github.triplet.gradle.play.tasks.PublishApk$ApkUploader
         > 400 Bad Request
           PUT https://www.googleapis.com/upload/androidpublisher/v3/applications/com.gc.teammanager/edits/17617435137012489094/apks?uploadType=resumable&upload_id=ABg5-Uz2uePpe82krgsycTtmC-yx3hVY-gE310RzfUgXEIE8ulVBuxYSB2a-R8wSFdWfd-msJYomlDE04kJI6G2yDzE
           {
             "code" : 400,
             "errors" : [ {
               "domain" : "global",
               "message" : "APK of size 214539916 is too large.",
               "reason" : "badRequest"
             } ],
             "message" : "APK of size 214539916 is too large.",
             "status" : "INVALID_ARGUMENT"
           }

Versions

2.8.1

We are trying to reduce the APK size. Meanwhile, 2.2.1 is preventing us to update to latest gradle. Is there a work around for now?

[SUPERCILEX]

I can't control what the api does, though I'm not sure why it would change between versions. The best I can offer is to make sure you're doing things to minimize app size since 200 megs seems a little high: proguard, remove unused dependencies, download non-critical assets at runtime, use the android app bundle, etc.

[SUPERCILEX]

BTW, the support page says you should only be allowed 100 megs, so I'm not sure what's going on: https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/2481797?hl=en

[GC-Xi]

Thank you