React Native app stuck on splash screen after a package update

My application was previously working fine, no build or runtime errors. Then I updated react-native-agora from ^2.9.1 to ^3.0.1-rc.4. Had a crash issue which was solved by

• pod install
• react-native start --reset-cache

My issue now is that the application is stuck on the splash screen and giving this error on iOS RN v0.61.5:

Invariant Violation: Module AppRegistry is not a registered callable module (calling runApplication)

So far I've tried:

• adding index.ios.js file and adding entry point code
• removing and re-installing node_modules
• npm cache clean
• cleaning and re-building project in Xcode
• restarting computer
• killall -9 node
• react-native start --reset-cache
• deleting app in simulator and re-building/running
• deleted pods folder and pod install
• commenting out all react-native-agora code

I have not:

• run any form of react-native link on this agora package. I'm on v0.61.5

Also:

• because react-navigation is auto linked in .61.5, I believe there should be some kind of development pod in Xcode. I haven't looked when it was working, so nothing to compare to. but I dont see react-navigation in the dev pods, but i see its peer dependencies

my package.json:

"dependencies": {
        "@react-native-community/cli": "^4.3.0",
        "@react-native-community/clipboard": "^1.2.2",
        "axios": "^0.19.2",
        "moment": "^2.24.0",
        "moment-timezone": "^0.5.27",
        "prop-types": "^15.7.2",
        "react": "16.9.0",
        "react-native": "^0.61.5",
        "react-native-agora": "^3.0.1-rc.4",
        "react-native-algolia-dropdown": "^1.6.0",
        "react-native-calendars": "^1.220.0",
        "react-native-chart-kit": "^4.3.0",
        "react-native-code-push": "^6.0.0",
        "react-native-extended-stylesheet": "^0.12.0",
        "react-native-firebase": "^5.6.0",
        "react-native-gesture-handler": "^1.5.2",
        "react-native-image-crop-picker": "^0.26.1",
        "react-native-material-dropdown": "^0.11.1",
        "react-native-reanimated": "^1.4.0",
        "react-native-responsive-screen": "^1.4.1",
        "react-native-safe-area-context": "^0.6.2",
        "react-native-screens": "^1.0.0-alpha.23",
        "react-native-snap-carousel": "^3.8.4",
        "react-native-splash-screen": "^3.2.0",
        "react-native-svg": "^9.13.6",
        "react-native-view-shot": "^3.1.2",
        "react-native-webview": "^9.4.0",
        "react-navigation": "^4.0.10",
        "react-navigation-drawer": "^2.3.3",
        "react-navigation-stack": "^1.10.3",
        "react-redux": "^7.1.3",
        "redux": "^4.0.4",
        "redux-persist": "^6.0.0",
        "redux-thunk": "^2.3.0",
        "rn-fetch-blob": "^0.11.2"
    },

index.js & index.android.js are identical:

import { AppRegistry } from 'react-native';
import App from './App';
import 'react-native-gesture-handler';
import { name as Project } from './app.json';

AppRegistry.registerComponent(Project, () => App);

EDIT (Debugger output):

• theres a lot of Require cycles are allowed, but can result in uninitialized values. Consider refactoring to remove the need for a cycle. these are output from a variety of sources, from my components, to firebase, to other npm packages
• a lot of complaints about still trying to use the react-native-agora package

How can I get this resolved?