How to reproduce:
1. Open the attached Project "testProject" and load Scene "SampleScene"
2. In the Project Window delete the Asset "testObj.asset"
3. Enter Play Mode
4. Observe the Console Window
Expected result: NullReferenceExpections can be seen in the Console
Actual result: No NullReferenceExceptions are thrown in the Console
Reproducible with: 2020.3.47f1, 2021.3.24f1, 2022.1.0a7, 2022.2.18f1, 2023.1.0b15, 2023.2.0a13
Not reproducible with: 2022.1.0a6
Notes:
- Assigning a null value to a ScriptableObject correctly throws NullReferenceExceptions
- When using a GameObject instead of a ScriptableObject in this scenario, the GameObject correctly throws the Exceptions
- "Missing" GameObjects, as well as ScriptableObjects in 2022.1.0a6, get changed to "None" upon entering Play Mode