TLDR: NewPipe 0.27.6 fixes the YouTube issues by performing the integrity checks now required by Google; NewPipe is being refactored heavily on the refactor branch and you can help and provide feedback on a nightly version; NewPipe will soon have a new completely rewritten player; the NewPipe team is struggling to keep up with the project’s demands due to dwindling free time of its members.
Good to hear from the team! I wish them all the best in the big things coming up