I'm learning of this with two weeks notice through the present post and probably have on the order of 400 games to download/backup/update, plus assets such as soundtracks, plus assorted book-like media. And I'm not even in very high numbers. It happens easily with the bundle based purchase model over a few years.
All to be downloaded as individual files, in a script dependent homepage which will only expose the links after clicking the entry for a specific work and usually selecting the odd tab or dropdown menu in addition to that.
The way this is being handled, for people who weren't buying for the Windows version, I find it hard to see as anything but unilateral confiscation of all purchases to date, with extremely questionable notice.
The usage is very simple -- you login in a browser, find a cookie named _simpleauth_sess by the dev tools, copy it, and then paste it into single quotes (it includes double quotes!) in the below:
If I'm not complete misunderstanding the article the launcher-only downloads only apply to Humble Trove, which isn't explicitly purchased. It's still really bad, and doesn't make any sense as a business decision, but from what I can tell this would not affect your access to purchased games.
It would indeed be less outrageous (but still bad) if you're right, and I may have misinterpreted the extent, but to me following expression in the article seems reason for concern, even about access to purchased games:
an entirely new launcher app, which must be used to access and download Humble Choice, Humble Trove, and Humble Games Collection games going forward
What is the Humble app?
The Humble app is the access point for the Humble Games Collection, a perk for Choice members launching February 1st, 2022.
What can I find in the Humble app?
The Humble Games Collection: A growing number of Humble Games published titles are available with an active Choice membership through the Humble app.
The Vault: The Vault will include over 50 Humble Original Games. Once downloaded, these games can be kept forever regardless of Choice Membership status.
All Humble Choice members receive a selection of hand-picked games redeemable via a key for select platforms, when available (Steam, Epic, Origin, GOG, etc.). You can find these games at the Humble Choice Hub after unlocking the current month of Choice. Games in the Humble app for Windows PC, including the Humble Games Collection, are only available to active Humble Choice members. New Humble Choice games are available on the first Tuesday of every month.
The way this is being handled, for people who weren't buying for the Windows version, I find it hard to see as anything but unilateral confiscation of all purchases to date, with extremely questionable notice.