Following the DDI 4 Prototype review, DDI 4 Core was launched early this year to address the feedback received and to include new requirements from an ever-evolving data space. DDI 4 Core has a narrower scope than the DDI 4 Prototype had and an emphasis in short-term delivery. The specification, to be released early next year, will support data description in different formats, from traditional wide, unit data files to data cubes, key-value pairs and other advanced data structures prevalent in modern data platforms. It will also include conceptual aspects of variables and classifications as well as the ability to describe data management and lineage in real-world use cases. DDI 4 Core is a production-ready version with an XML representation, to enable interdisciplinary, cross-domain and interoperable metadata-driven solutions for complex data processing, like those existing in National Statistical Offices and other government agencies. This presentation will provide an overview of the specification to date and a vision for the future.