They have more huge franchises than most 3rd parties.
...
Unless you want to separate them from Blizzard.
Then, they just have a couple of the largest franchises in the world.
I think it's popular to criticize them though, because they are changing gaming, some believe for the worse. Messing with the PC shooter scene, focusing on profit optimization over innovation, and generally being aholes all around.
However, their greatness as publishers is hard to deny.
Diablo III, Starcraft 2, MW2, Guitar Hero Metallica, Prototype. Good games upcoming and out now. Blizzard and Activision aren't in bed with each other. They are the same company, right? The company is called Activision-Blizzard or something like that.
I don't need your console war.
It feeds the rich while it buries the poor.
You're power hungry, spinnin' stories, and bein' graphics whores.
I don't need your console war.
NO NO, NO NO NO.