: Starbound is known for being DRM-free. Simply zipping the folder allows the game to be moved and played on other machines without needing the Steam client active, which is a common practice for personal backups.
: This was a golden era for modding. Large-scale mods like Frackin' Universe were fully mature by 2020, and many players used specific build backups (like the one in your .rar file) to ensure compatibility with their favorite mod setups before any potential (though rare) official patches. Why Archive Specific Builds? Starbound Build 03232020.rar
By March 2020, Starbound had been out of early access for nearly four years. This particular build represents the game in its late-stage development lifecycle. At this point, the core "1.4 Bounty Hunter" update (released in mid-2019) was the primary content set. : Starbound is known for being DRM-free
: RAR files are frequently used to share specific "curated" versions of the game—sometimes pre-loaded with mods—within small communities or for historical preservation. Technical Note If you are trying to use this file, be aware that: Large-scale mods like Frackin' Universe were fully mature
: Because Steam automatically updates games, players often manually zip their "Steamapps" folder to preserve a specific version. This is crucial if a new update breaks a complex mod list.