I was thinking to put together a post with what we know about the timeline of developments on Hive and what we should expect on Hive from this perspective from what I know, including some speculations, which may or may not materialize.
1. Hive Core Development
This includes two sides: the core apps like HAF, Hivemind and example applications, and changes that need witnesses consensus to be applied, thus a hard fork. There are also changes to the blockchain level that don't require a HF. For example, the ability to break a full account history file into multiple files, and keep the ones you want from the most recent, as a node operator. Please excuse if my language may not be precise, since I am not a witness and only recall this info as a simple user (with a technical background).
Also the work of 
In 2024, the major focus for the Blocktrades team was on core apps and their applications and non-consensus changes, rather than on changes that require a hard fork. Last update discussed about the updated core apps being launched these days (last week to be more exact, but things could have chanced). So that's a lot of work that finally sees the light of day at the beginning of 2025.
Another focus has been on creating an API library for Hive apps, called WAX, based on the new technologies that have been rolled out. I expect that work to continue on a regular basis even for maintenance and updating purposes.
The HF seems to be pushed more like toward Q2. At the same time, Blocktrades expects their Lite Accounts API to be rolled out.
Past Q2 - and even in the meantime whoever gets freed from app development - we'll see what they'll focus on next.
2. VSC Network - Custom Smart Contracts on Hive
I haven't seen any recent updates, but the last ETA we know for this L2 platform anchored by Hive which everyone expects is Q1.
Apart from the possibility of creating custom smart contracts to Hive using various programming languages, VSC is going to feature a DEX with connection to the EVM chains and BTC, for starters, working with native coins instead of wrapped ones.
There are many benefits that are expected to derive for Hive from the launch of VSC, but likely some of them will take time to materialize into the desired products.
3. INLEO
Question or not some aspects about INLEO, they are a HUGE driving force for the progress we have on Hive, on many layers.
Their marketing push in 2025 may be conditioned by the approval of the DHF proposal they currently have going on, but their development isn't. So we can be sure they'll have plenty of new developments in 2025, many of them described in the above mentioned proposal.
It's interesting that Blocktrades said we need to spend more DHF funds, not less, for Hive to prosper, something he learned from his business experience.
4. Splinterlands
Splinterlands has slated a couple of major projects in the Q1 and Q2 of this year. We are talking about a new game mode, the next version in the Land development, the mobile apps, validators, onboarding experience, and glamour and cosmetics. All big things! All impactful. If we count that Q2 starts with a new core set too, they have a lot going on.
I think it's still too quiet around Splinterlands when we think about to what is coming.
Note that they haven't even pushed any major marketing campaign yet, which has been funded by the DHF. My thinking is they are waiting to have at least the onboarding experience where they want before they kick start it. That includes the mobile apps. Maybe they want the validators launched before that too, but they should already be ready.
5. Distriator
The network of Distriator continues to expand. Their model certainly picked up, particularly in certain geographical areas.
What I'd like to include here, though, is more of a speculation, based on what 
Currently, Distriator's cashback works for brick-and-mortar businesses and posting proof of purchase within 30 minutes of making the purchase, if I remember well. Matt said they are thinking to expand the model to purchases made online.
6. Golem Overlord
Golem Overlord is a game that started as a replica of TerraCore, but quickly developed to have its own identity and now a second game mode, PvP. It is actively developed and I'm curious what 2025 will bring for this game.
7. Holozing
Not clear when Holozing gameplay will be launched, but it will most likely be this year. It is the most expected game on Hive in recent period. Let's hope everything will be fine.
Hive and Competition
Web 2 started to move in onto the monetization of the smaller-medium creators. We need to be careful. The market for censorship resistance isn't so big yet, but it's growing.
In fact, I believe each of us have our own battles to fight. For them, it's to stay in control and shape up the future of interaction online, for us, to become relevant in the social space online.
Hive and AI
I don't see a relevant future of Hive that doesn't include AI, in different forms. We can choose a future without AIs on Hive (or parts of Hive), but it would be like in today's world one would choose to ignore smart phones, with all their good and bad facets.
Our text-based blockchain makes it highly suitable for training LLMs, which being a permissionless blockchain, probably has happened and will happen, whether we want it or not.
We may choose to set up our own LLMs or not, and under our own rules and preferences, but we can't really stop ANY other LLM from training on our data, if they want to.
LeoAI, INLEO's LLM based on one of the chatgpt models (they may have changed it) and additionally trained on Hive data, may or may not come out in full force in 2025. It is probably already used in production in certain areas (probably the "for you" feed), but the chat or the copilot-like (for posting) parts are not available publicly yet.
Ending Words
We have many projects that continue to be developed and if we make snapshots every year, we might be surprised how much they change in a year, or how many additional projects they work on (Peak Open projects are an interesting case, Hive Keychain is also continuously developed).
Other projects may not have a high development rhythm, but they are there, reliable, when you need them.
There are also the smaller projects, ran by 1 or a few people, often building communities around them. While maybe they don't look impressive to be in the spotlight, some of them have serious people behind, thinking long term.
What else do you think will put their mark on 2025 for Hive?