Malastare is a hot, humid world. So hot in fact, that non-natives are advised to use thermal protection equipment when outside climate-controlled buildings. It is also a large planet, with a gravity higher than many species are comfortable with. The planet's wet climate means that the average rainfall is over three meters and thick jungles covered most of the planet's land surface. The planet's three large oceans are fed by constant rainfall and comprised of fresh, sweet water. The oceans in turn feed massive areas of swampland that teemed with aquatic and amphibious wildlife.

The Galactic Republic established an outpost approximately eight thousand years BCGT, as Malastare is an important junction on the Hydian Way, and encountered the Dug species for the first time. The native Dugs were a historically arboreal species that were hunted by enormous predators called Zillo Beasts. These predators have since become extinct, due to the Dug discovery of Malastarian fuel, a volatile liquid that proved highly toxic to them. This fuel proved to be both boon and bane for the native Dugs, and the large population of Humans and Gran that migrated to the planet to work in the fuel refineries and associated industries. While the Dugs and Gran fought for control of the economy, both still worked to exploit the fuel reserves and massive fuel refineries sprang up all over the planet. The political corruption of the Republic became evident as long ago as one thousand years BCGT when the politically powerful Gran succeeded in obtaining Republic support to form the Gran Protectorate, which effectively made the Dugs refugees on their own planet and seized control of the fuel industry.

This fuel led to serious fighting over Malastare's resources during the Clone Wars. Republic and Separatist fleets fought a major action which resulted in a close-fought Republic victory. Post-Clone Wars, the Dug Council authorized the dismantling of much of the planet's infrastructure, to make the planet a less attractive target in future conflicts. The fuel extraction industry left behind large areas of polluted desert, which still mar the planet's surface, the planet's natural soil stained black, yellow, and brown from industrial by-products. Reclamation work is underway but will likely take decades, if not centuries, to complete. In the meantime, the large open areas serve as arenas for pod racing, which has become the planet's national pastime. The capital city, Pixelito, has become one of the galaxy's foremost centers for the design and construction of prize-winning podracers, attracting teams from all across the galaxy.