The GIMP development team has announced work on a new project file format, addressing growing limitations with the long-standing binary .xcf format. Used since 1997, the current .xcf format saves project components such as layers and effects for later editing. However, the team stated in a recent development update that they are finding "more and more limitations" in the existing format. This move is driven by the format's inability to adequately handle larger, more complex projects and to properly support major upcoming features, including animation and multi-page documents. The new format aims to provide a more robust and scalable solution for GIMP's evolving capabilities.