Based on the flying sequences found in 1997's Diddy Kong Racing, Banjo Pilot features aerial racing action starring a cast of cartoon-like characters from previous Rare games. Four modes of play include Story, Battle, Dogfight, Clock Race, and Tournament. The high-flying hijinks take place across ten themed environments, from jungles to deserts to arctic regions, with a total of 24 courses available for solo competition. Up to four players can link together to participate in competitive Dogfight and Battle modes, with 36 additional courses specifically designed for multiplayer action. Originally scheduled for release as Diddy Kong Pilot, the game's name was changed when developer Rare was sold from Nintendo to Microsoft in 2002.