I think you are mistaken - in the audio: http://storage.googleapis.com/androiddevelopers/android_developers_backstage/Android%20Developers%20Backstage%20Ep%2011

I think you are mistaken - in the audio: http://storage.googleapis.com/androiddevelopers/android_developers_backstage/Android%20Developers%20Backstage%20Ep%2011%20ART%2C%20pART%202%20%28Trash%20Talk%29.mp3 http://storage.googleapis.com/androiddevelopers/android_deve... Around 27:55 they discuss that they plan on lifting the limit. Indeed modifying the dex format is talked about and it is mentioned that it is a future goal. They also speak about multidex, the interim backwards compatible fix which does not require modifying the dex format (but uses a hack) and will make modifying the dex format easier in the future.