In 2014, Official Nintendo Magazine UK, who had previously criticized the Senran Kagura series in their reviews, published a notably harsh and superficial preview description of Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson in one of their issues. The reviewer seemed reluctant and upset to be covering the game, referring to it as "filth", and focused on mocking its exaggerated breast jiggle physics while dismissing the combat and story aspects, describing it as "smuggling fleshy watermelons in your top and the only way to win the "game" is by making sure everyone's seen your bum". This review also mistakenly referred to the game as "Senran Kagura Burst 2", presumably as a result of the reviewer's disregard while writing.

The same issue also featured a dismissive but less negative preview description of the game Lords of Magna: Maiden Heaven, published by Senran Kagura's worldwide publisher Xseed Games. This review reduced the game to being about "scantily clad […] pink-haired, big-eyed gals" and "something that might be crystal meth". The reviewer admitted he did not get much information out of the game's "cryptic" trailer and was certain it was a fantasy RPG where it "sounds like you get to run an inn" and fight monsters, but generally described it as "an anime Breaking Bad game."

These previews prompted a similarly harsh and upset response from Leona Renee, or Hattsu, then-production coordinator at Xseed Games. She criticized the previews on Twitter for the surface-level focus on fan service, demeaning the female cast, and unprofessionally ignoring each game's combat, story, and features, but also resorted to direct insults by calling the Senran Kagura reviewer an "idiot" and a "twat". Hattsu clarified that her response was not an official response representing the views of the company, but were her personal views on the matter.

The game was part of a cross-promotion deal with a brand of corn puff snacks, Umaibo. The game's playable characters appeared on the brand's product packaging.