Haunted Paws Switch 2: AI Clone Hits eShop [Confirmed]

Nintendo eShop search queries for Lazy Flock’s anticipated co-op title Haunted Paws are actively displaying Ghostly Whiskers, an unauthorized knockoff published by Nostra Games utilizing AI-generated assets, creating significant storefront confusion ahead of the genuine indie title's planned May 2026 launch. According to verified reports from Kotaku, the unauthorized clone was released on the digital storefront in September after stirring controversy in January, when developer Lazy Flock explicitly accused Nostra Games of copying their core concept, narrative, and visual style through generative tools. Despite Haunted Paws debuting its official demo during Nintendo’s Indie World showcase, players typing the exact game name into search prompts were redirected toward the clone, even though Nostra Games omitted the exact phrase in its product metadata. This discovery echoes previous clone operations linked to the publisher, which has repeatedly cloned viral indie titles. With hardware excitement mounting alongside our [Zelda Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Pre-Order Guide [Confirmed]](/news/zelda-ocarina-of-time-switch-2-preorder-guide), critics argue that Nintendo's storefront indexing protocols desperately require tighter moderation filters. Lazy Flock continues development on the legitimate canine adventure, aiming to protect player trust from predatory copycats that exploit discoverability loops.