Occam's razor: it's far more likely this woman misspoke.
"when you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better"
No, it's more likely this woman lied to someone, not that she simply misspoke. Either to the group she gave the presentation to, or to gamers. Given the fact she was caught stealing gameplay footage instead of using her own recordings for games, given the fact that she gave factually incorrect critique of games which she would know was factually incorrect if she had played them, given the fact she patently misrepresented games for her own political agenda... Which is more likely?
Do you deny these facts? That she stole footage without getting permission. If she enjoyed games why not use her own footage? It seems more likely her off the cuff remark was far more honest in showing her loathing of games.
She's built her career on video games, which means if she's lying about playing them she's malicious, dishonest, and stupid. Assuming your opponent is malicious, dishonest, and stupid is classic conspiracy theorizing.
She's built her career on video games
Not before trying her luck with various Internet marketing schemes dealing with suspected fraudsters.
which means if she's lying about playing them
She got caught stealing gameplay footage. What more proof do you need that she's lying about playing games? If she enjoyed games she would play them, and record her playing, as thousands of Let's Players show without even needing to get paid first to do it. They play games, record videos, and upload their gameplay because they enjoy the games. Examples like stampylonghead come to mind.
she's malicious, dishonest,
See for example her misrepresentation of the Hitman game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuRSaLZidWI
and stupid
I don't think she nor McIntosh are stupid. I think McIntosh is an extremist ideologue, and she is going along for the ride, not really caring about the damage she has participated in doing to games.
she's still got the trust of many of the games industry's top developers like Notch and Bungie.
Going to need a citation on the claim that Jonathan McIntosh has the personal trust of Notch and Bungie.
No, the industry does not give her trust, but the industry is aware of the power the fanatics who support her have in smearing people and defaming games. Many an attempt to appeal to her (McIntosh's) list of contradictory grievances without first notifying her that they are doing so is met with the game projects getting flamed. See: Dying Light.