diff --git a/BUILD.bazel b/BUILD.bazel
index ce9f9a15..cbc75fe5 100644
--- a/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 load("@bazel_gazelle//:def.bzl", "DEFAULT_LANGUAGES", "gazelle", "gazelle_binary")
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_filegroup", "pkg_files")
 load(
     "//bzlformat:defs.bzl",
     "bzlformat_missing_pkgs",
@@ -115,12 +114,6 @@ filegroup(
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
 
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
-
 # All of the packages that should be included in the release archive and made
 # available to the child workspaces.
 _RUNTIME_PKGS = [
@@ -161,16 +154,6 @@ filegroup(
     ],
     visibility = [
         ":integration_test_visibility",
-    ],
-)
-
-pkg_filegroup(
-    name = "release_filegroup",
-    srcs = [
-        pkg + ":release_files"
-        for pkg in _RUNTIME_PKGS
-    ],
-    visibility = [
         "//:__subpackages__",
     ],
 )
diff --git a/WORKSPACE b/WORKSPACE
index fbd49ebd..6a896a67 100644
--- a/WORKSPACE
+++ b/WORKSPACE
@@ -26,10 +26,6 @@ load("@io_bazel_stardoc//:setup.bzl", "stardoc_repositories")
 
 stardoc_repositories()
 
-load("@rules_pkg//:deps.bzl", "rules_pkg_dependencies")
-
-rules_pkg_dependencies()
-
 # MARK: - Prebuilt Buildtools Deps
 
 load("@buildifier_prebuilt//:deps.bzl", "buildifier_prebuilt_deps")
diff --git a/bazeldoc/BUILD.bazel b/bazeldoc/BUILD.bazel
index d0781e64..190a5724 100644
--- a/bazeldoc/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/bazeldoc/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
@@ -30,10 +29,3 @@ filegroup(
     srcs = glob(["*"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
-
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
diff --git a/bazeldoc/private/BUILD.bazel b/bazeldoc/private/BUILD.bazel
index eac8362b..91b7a2ca 100644
--- a/bazeldoc/private/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/bazeldoc/private/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//bazeldoc:__subpackages__"])
@@ -57,13 +56,6 @@ filegroup(
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
 
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
-
 bzl_library(
     name = "doc_utilities",
     srcs = ["doc_utilities.bzl"],
diff --git a/build/BUILD.bazel b/build/BUILD.bazel
index fedcb98a..b653593b 100644
--- a/build/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/build/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//rules:common_settings.bzl", "string_flag")
 load("@cgrindel_bazel_starlib//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 
 bzlformat_pkg(name = "bzlformat")
 
@@ -10,13 +9,6 @@ filegroup(
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
 
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
-
 string_flag(
     name = "execution_env",
     build_setting_default = "normal",
diff --git a/bzlformat/BUILD.bazel b/bzlformat/BUILD.bazel
index ae066229..942a4724 100644
--- a/bzlformat/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/bzlformat/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat/private:bzlformat_pkg.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
@@ -30,10 +29,3 @@ filegroup(
     srcs = glob(["*"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
-
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
diff --git a/bzlformat/private/BUILD.bazel b/bzlformat/private/BUILD.bazel
index 0e4f3863..d650c520 100644
--- a/bzlformat/private/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/bzlformat/private/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load(":bzlformat_pkg.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//bzlformat:__subpackages__"])
@@ -52,10 +51,3 @@ filegroup(
     srcs = glob(["*"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
-
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
diff --git a/bzlformat/tools/BUILD.bazel b/bzlformat/tools/BUILD.bazel
index 9debdd3c..496460b9 100644
--- a/bzlformat/tools/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/bzlformat/tools/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 # MARK: - Binaries
@@ -24,10 +23,3 @@ filegroup(
     srcs = glob(["*"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
-
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
diff --git a/bzlformat/tools/missing_pkgs/BUILD.bazel b/bzlformat/tools/missing_pkgs/BUILD.bazel
index f49eac6d..06a83870 100644
--- a/bzlformat/tools/missing_pkgs/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/bzlformat/tools/missing_pkgs/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 bzlformat_pkg(name = "bzlformat")
@@ -46,10 +45,3 @@ filegroup(
     srcs = glob(["*"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
-
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
diff --git a/bzllib/BUILD.bazel b/bzllib/BUILD.bazel
index fc28290f..bf26c3f9 100644
--- a/bzllib/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/bzllib/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
@@ -31,10 +30,3 @@ filegroup(
     srcs = glob(["*"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
-
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
diff --git a/bzllib/private/BUILD.bazel b/bzllib/private/BUILD.bazel
index 97af4151..7a41389d 100644
--- a/bzllib/private/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/bzllib/private/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//bzllib:__subpackages__"])
@@ -14,13 +13,6 @@ filegroup(
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
 
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
-
 bzl_library(
     name = "bazel_labels",
     srcs = ["bazel_labels.bzl"],
diff --git a/bzlrelease/BUILD.bazel b/bzlrelease/BUILD.bazel
index b3ad4b09..0a17a5a2 100644
--- a/bzlrelease/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/bzlrelease/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
@@ -20,6 +19,7 @@ bzl_library(
         "//bzlrelease/private:generate_release_notes",
         "//bzlrelease/private:generate_workspace_snippet",
         "//bzlrelease/private:hash_sha256",
+        "//bzlrelease/private:release_archive",
         "//bzlrelease/private:update_readme",
     ],
 )
@@ -31,10 +31,3 @@ filegroup(
     srcs = glob(["*"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
-
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
diff --git a/bzlrelease/defs.bzl b/bzlrelease/defs.bzl
index 5f36d14e..c3a4d13b 100644
--- a/bzlrelease/defs.bzl
+++ b/bzlrelease/defs.bzl
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ load(
     _generate_workspace_snippet = "generate_workspace_snippet",
 )
 load("//bzlrelease/private:hash_sha256.bzl", _hash_sha256 = "hash_sha256")
+load(
+    "//bzlrelease/private:release_archive.bzl",
+    _release_archive = "release_archive",
+)
 load(
     "//bzlrelease/private:update_readme.bzl",
     _update_readme = "update_readme",
@@ -27,3 +31,5 @@ generate_release_notes = _generate_release_notes
 hash_sha256 = _hash_sha256
 
 update_readme = _update_readme
+
+release_archive = _release_archive
diff --git a/bzlrelease/private/BUILD.bazel b/bzlrelease/private/BUILD.bazel
index 560a4139..a673d401 100644
--- a/bzlrelease/private/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/bzlrelease/private/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//bzlrelease:__subpackages__"])
@@ -46,14 +45,12 @@ filegroup(
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
 
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
-
 bzl_library(
     name = "hash_sha256",
     srcs = ["hash_sha256.bzl"],
 )
+
+bzl_library(
+    name = "release_archive",
+    srcs = ["release_archive.bzl"],
+)
diff --git a/bzlrelease/private/release_archive.bzl b/bzlrelease/private/release_archive.bzl
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..04bc4859
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bzlrelease/private/release_archive.bzl
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+"""Definition for `release_archive` rule."""
+
+def _release_archive_impl(ctx):
+    out_basename = ctx.attr.out
+    if out_basename == "":
+        out_basename = "{name}{ext}".format(
+            name = ctx.label.name,
+            ext = ctx.attr.ext,
+        )
+    out = ctx.actions.declare_file(out_basename)
+
+    # Write the file list to a file
+    file_list_out = ctx.actions.declare_file(ctx.label.name + "_files")
+    file_list_args = ctx.actions.args()
+    file_list_args.add_all(ctx.files.srcs)
+    ctx.actions.write(
+        output = file_list_out,
+        content = file_list_args,
+    )
+
+    # Create the archive
+    args = ctx.actions.args()
+    args.add(out)
+    args.add(file_list_out)
+    ctx.actions.run_shell(
+        outputs = [out],
+        inputs = [file_list_out] + ctx.files.srcs,
+        arguments = [args],
+        command = """\
+archive="$1"
+file_list="$2"
+shift 1
+tar 2>/dev/null -hczvf "$archive" -T "${file_list}"
+""",
+    )
+    return DefaultInfo(
+        files = depset([out]),
+        runfiles = ctx.runfiles(files = [out]),
+    )
+
+release_archive = rule(
+    implementation = _release_archive_impl,
+    attrs = {
+        "ext": attr.string(
+            default = ".tar.gz",
+            doc = "The extension for the archive.",
+        ),
+        "out": attr.string(
+            doc = "The name of the output file.",
+        ),
+        "srcs": attr.label_list(
+            allow_files = True,
+            mandatory = True,
+        ),
+    },
+    doc = """\
+Create a source release archive.
+
+This rule uses `tar` to collect and compress files into an archive file \
+suitable for use as a release artifact. Any permissions on the source files \
+will be preserved.
+""",
+)
diff --git a/bzlrelease/tools/BUILD.bazel b/bzlrelease/tools/BUILD.bazel
index f73ae227..6559305d 100644
--- a/bzlrelease/tools/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/bzlrelease/tools/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 bzlformat_pkg(name = "bzlformat")
@@ -115,10 +114,3 @@ filegroup(
     srcs = glob(["*"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
-
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
diff --git a/bzlrelease/tools/generate_sha256.sh b/bzlrelease/tools/generate_sha256.sh
index c5158959..bf0025b5 100755
--- a/bzlrelease/tools/generate_sha256.sh
+++ b/bzlrelease/tools/generate_sha256.sh
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ case "${utility}" in
   openssl)
     function sumsha256() {
       # On Ubuntu, we can see a prefix of '(stdin)= '
-      openssl dgst -sha256 | sed -E 's|^\(stdin\)= (.*)|\1|g'
+      # 2023-02-01:  This has recently changed to be 'SHA2-256(stdin)='.
+      openssl dgst -sha256 | sed -E 's|^.*\(stdin\)= (.*)|\1|g'
     }
     ;;
   *)
diff --git a/bzltidy/BUILD.bazel b/bzltidy/BUILD.bazel
index f074ee83..1a37a5ff 100644
--- a/bzltidy/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/bzltidy/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
 load("@cgrindel_bazel_starlib//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
 
@@ -26,10 +25,3 @@ filegroup(
     srcs = glob(["*"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
-
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
diff --git a/bzltidy/private/BUILD.bazel b/bzltidy/private/BUILD.bazel
index 3f6332f5..d475aec2 100644
--- a/bzltidy/private/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/bzltidy/private/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
 load("@cgrindel_bazel_starlib//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 
 exports_files([
     "tidy.sh",
@@ -17,13 +16,6 @@ filegroup(
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
 
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
-
 bzl_library(
     name = "tidy",
     srcs = ["tidy.bzl"],
diff --git a/deps.bzl b/deps.bzl
index 8dc4e1d4..f806f298 100644
--- a/deps.bzl
+++ b/deps.bzl
@@ -108,16 +108,6 @@ def bazel_starlib_dependencies(
         ],
     )
 
-    maybe(
-        http_archive,
-        name = "rules_pkg",
-        urls = [
-            "https://mirror.bazel.build/github.com/bazelbuild/rules_pkg/releases/download/0.8.0/rules_pkg-0.8.0.tar.gz",
-            "https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_pkg/releases/download/0.8.0/rules_pkg-0.8.0.tar.gz",
-        ],
-        sha256 = "eea0f59c28a9241156a47d7a8e32db9122f3d50b505fae0f33de6ce4d9b61834",
-    )
-
     if use_bazeldoc:
         _bazeldoc_dependencies()
 
diff --git a/doc/bzlrelease/BUILD.bazel b/doc/bzlrelease/BUILD.bazel
index 08530003..42ee94f2 100644
--- a/doc/bzlrelease/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/doc/bzlrelease/BUILD.bazel
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ _RULE_NAMES = [
     "generate_release_notes",
     "generate_workspace_snippet",
     "hash_sha256",
+    "release_archive",
     "update_readme",
 ]
 
diff --git a/doc/bzlrelease/release_archive.md b/doc/bzlrelease/release_archive.md
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..86d1f329
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/bzlrelease/release_archive.md
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+<!-- Generated with Stardoc, Do Not Edit! -->
+# `release_archive` Rule
+
+
+<a id="release_archive"></a>
+
+## release_archive
+
+<pre>
+release_archive(<a href="#release_archive-name">name</a>, <a href="#release_archive-ext">ext</a>, <a href="#release_archive-out">out</a>, <a href="#release_archive-srcs">srcs</a>)
+</pre>
+
+Create a source release archive.
+
+This rule uses `tar` to collect and compress files into an archive file suitable for use as a release artifact. Any permissions on the source files will be preserved.
+
+
+**ATTRIBUTES**
+
+
+| Name  | Description | Type | Mandatory | Default |
+| :------------- | :------------- | :------------- | :------------- | :------------- |
+| <a id="release_archive-name"></a>name |  A unique name for this target.   | <a href="https://bazel.build/concepts/labels#target-names">Name</a> | required |  |
+| <a id="release_archive-ext"></a>ext |  The extension for the archive.   | String | optional | <code>".tar.gz"</code> |
+| <a id="release_archive-out"></a>out |  The name of the output file.   | String | optional | <code>""</code> |
+| <a id="release_archive-srcs"></a>srcs |  -   | <a href="https://bazel.build/concepts/labels">List of labels</a> | required |  |
+
+
diff --git a/doc/bzlrelease/rules.md b/doc/bzlrelease/rules.md
index 3e54bdb8..3e760555 100755
--- a/doc/bzlrelease/rules.md
+++ b/doc/bzlrelease/rules.md
@@ -7,5 +7,6 @@ The rules listed below are available in this repository.
   * [generate_release_notes](/doc/bzlrelease/generate_release_notes.md)
   * [generate_workspace_snippet](/doc/bzlrelease/generate_workspace_snippet.md)
   * [hash_sha256](/doc/bzlrelease/hash_sha256.md)
+  * [release_archive](/doc/bzlrelease/release_archive.md)
   * [update_readme](/doc/bzlrelease/update_readme.md)
 
diff --git a/markdown/BUILD.bazel b/markdown/BUILD.bazel
index fd22fc4f..e370be14 100644
--- a/markdown/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/markdown/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
@@ -12,13 +11,6 @@ filegroup(
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
 
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
-
 filegroup(
     name = "default_markdown_link_check_config",
     srcs = ["default_markdown_link_check_config.json"],
diff --git a/markdown/private/BUILD.bazel b/markdown/private/BUILD.bazel
index 1777b22b..0b88b704 100644
--- a/markdown/private/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/markdown/private/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 bzlformat_pkg(name = "bzlformat")
@@ -10,13 +9,6 @@ filegroup(
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
 
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
-
 bzl_library(
     name = "markdown_generate_toc",
     srcs = ["markdown_generate_toc.bzl"],
diff --git a/markdown/tools/BUILD.bazel b/markdown/tools/BUILD.bazel
index d1c439c9..41e20b7d 100644
--- a/markdown/tools/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/markdown/tools/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@cgrindel_bazel_starlib//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 
 bzlformat_pkg(name = "bzlformat")
 
@@ -9,13 +8,6 @@ filegroup(
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
 
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
-
 sh_binary(
     name = "update_markdown_doc",
     srcs = ["update_markdown_doc.sh"],
diff --git a/release/BUILD.bazel b/release/BUILD.bazel
index 60a28010..8e6c444c 100644
--- a/release/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/release/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//rules:build_test.bzl", "build_test")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:tar.bzl", "pkg_tar")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 load(
     "//bzlrelease:defs.bzl",
@@ -7,6 +6,7 @@ load(
     "generate_release_notes",
     "generate_workspace_snippet",
     "hash_sha256",
+    "release_archive",
     "update_readme",
 )
 
@@ -41,11 +41,10 @@ create_release(
     workflow_name = "Create Release",
 )
 
-pkg_tar(
+release_archive(
     name = "archive",
-    srcs = ["//:release_filegroup"],
+    srcs = ["//:local_repository_files"],
     out = "bazel-starlib.tar.gz",
-    extension = ".tar.gz",
 )
 
 hash_sha256(
diff --git a/shlib/lib/BUILD.bazel b/shlib/lib/BUILD.bazel
index 6f33d4b5..ff919836 100644
--- a/shlib/lib/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/shlib/lib/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
@@ -62,10 +61,3 @@ filegroup(
     srcs = glob(["*"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
-
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
diff --git a/shlib/rules/BUILD.bazel b/shlib/rules/BUILD.bazel
index 7ac91e7b..5a68b48d 100644
--- a/shlib/rules/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/shlib/rules/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
@@ -30,10 +29,3 @@ filegroup(
     srcs = glob(["*"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
-
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
diff --git a/shlib/rules/private/BUILD.bazel b/shlib/rules/private/BUILD.bazel
index 8623a0b3..9f848ae5 100644
--- a/shlib/rules/private/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/shlib/rules/private/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//shlib/rules:__pkg__"])
@@ -39,10 +38,3 @@ filegroup(
     srcs = glob(["*"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
-
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
diff --git a/shlib/tools/BUILD.bazel b/shlib/tools/BUILD.bazel
index e93f6525..7b9ecba5 100644
--- a/shlib/tools/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/shlib/tools/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 bzlformat_pkg(name = "bzlformat")
@@ -19,10 +18,3 @@ filegroup(
     srcs = glob(["*"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
-
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
diff --git a/tests/bzlrelease_tests/rules_tests/generate_workspace_snippet_tests/BUILD.bazel b/tests/bzlrelease_tests/rules_tests/generate_workspace_snippet_tests/BUILD.bazel
index ea9f2ae1..1010aee9 100644
--- a/tests/bzlrelease_tests/rules_tests/generate_workspace_snippet_tests/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/tests/bzlrelease_tests/rules_tests/generate_workspace_snippet_tests/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//rules:write_file.bzl", "write_file")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:tar.bzl", "pkg_tar")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
-load("//bzlrelease:defs.bzl", "generate_workspace_snippet", "hash_sha256")
+load("//bzlrelease:defs.bzl", "generate_workspace_snippet", "hash_sha256", "release_archive")
 load("//tests:integration_test_common.bzl", "GH_ENV_INHERIT", "INTEGRATION_TEST_TAGS")
 
 bzlformat_pkg(name = "bzlformat")
@@ -21,7 +20,7 @@ write_file(
     content = ["Hello, World!"],
 )
 
-pkg_tar(
+release_archive(
     name = "archive",
     srcs = [":src_file"],
 )
diff --git a/tests/bzlrelease_tests/rules_tests/release_artifact_tests/BUILD.bazel b/tests/bzlrelease_tests/rules_tests/release_artifact_tests/BUILD.bazel
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..711bb905
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/bzlrelease_tests/rules_tests/release_artifact_tests/BUILD.bazel
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+load("@cgrindel_bazel_starlib//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
+load("//bzlrelease:defs.bzl", "release_archive")
+
+bzlformat_pkg(name = "bzlformat")
+
+release_archive(
+    name = "archive",
+    srcs = [
+        "//bzlrelease:all_files",
+        "//bzlrelease/private:all_files",
+        "//bzlrelease/tools:all_files",
+    ],
+)
+
+sh_test(
+    name = "archive_test",
+    srcs = ["archive_test.sh"],
+    data = [":archive"],
+    deps = [
+        "@bazel_tools//tools/bash/runfiles",
+        "@cgrindel_bazel_starlib//shlib/lib:assertions",
+    ],
+)
diff --git a/tests/bzlrelease_tests/rules_tests/release_artifact_tests/archive_test.sh b/tests/bzlrelease_tests/rules_tests/release_artifact_tests/archive_test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..a3ccd7a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/bzlrelease_tests/rules_tests/release_artifact_tests/archive_test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# --- begin runfiles.bash initialization v2 ---
+# Copy-pasted from the Bazel Bash runfiles library v2.
+set -o nounset -o pipefail; f=bazel_tools/tools/bash/runfiles/runfiles.bash
+# shellcheck disable=SC1090
+source "${RUNFILES_DIR:-/dev/null}/$f" 2>/dev/null || \
+  source "$(grep -sm1 "^$f " "${RUNFILES_MANIFEST_FILE:-/dev/null}" | cut -f2- -d' ')" 2>/dev/null || \
+  source "$0.runfiles/$f" 2>/dev/null || \
+  source "$(grep -sm1 "^$f " "$0.runfiles_manifest" | cut -f2- -d' ')" 2>/dev/null || \
+  source "$(grep -sm1 "^$f " "$0.exe.runfiles_manifest" | cut -f2- -d' ')" 2>/dev/null || \
+  { echo>&2 "ERROR: cannot find $f"; exit 1; }; f=; set -o errexit
+# --- end runfiles.bash initialization v2 ---
+
+# MARK - Locate Deps
+
+assertions_sh_location=cgrindel_bazel_starlib/shlib/lib/assertions.sh
+assertions_sh="$(rlocation "${assertions_sh_location}")" || \
+  (echo >&2 "Failed to locate ${assertions_sh_location}" && exit 1)
+source "${assertions_sh}"
+
+archive_tar_gz_location=cgrindel_bazel_starlib/tests/bzlrelease_tests/rules_tests/release_artifact_tests/archive.tar.gz
+archive_tar_gz="$(rlocation "${archive_tar_gz_location}")" || \
+  (echo >&2 "Failed to locate ${archive_tar_gz_location}" && exit 1)
+
+# MARK - Test
+
+contents="$(tar -tf "${archive_tar_gz}")"
+assert_match "bzlrelease/" "${contents}" 
+assert_match "bzlrelease/private/" "${contents}" 
+assert_match "bzlrelease/tools/" "${contents}" 
diff --git a/updatesrc/BUILD.bazel b/updatesrc/BUILD.bazel
index 380528c2..937a8048 100644
--- a/updatesrc/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/updatesrc/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
@@ -30,10 +29,3 @@ filegroup(
     srcs = glob(["*"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
-
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
diff --git a/updatesrc/private/BUILD.bazel b/updatesrc/private/BUILD.bazel
index c1598f3f..23b76a96 100644
--- a/updatesrc/private/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/updatesrc/private/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
-load("@rules_pkg//pkg:mappings.bzl", "pkg_files")
 load("//bzlformat:defs.bzl", "bzlformat_pkg")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//updatesrc:__subpackages__"])
@@ -34,13 +33,6 @@ filegroup(
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
 
-pkg_files(
-    name = "release_files",
-    srcs = [":all_files"],
-    prefix = package_name(),
-    visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
-)
-
 bzl_library(
     name = "providers",
     srcs = ["providers.bzl"],