I would like to note there is a few problems here:
1. Optimization, the current engine is currently rediculously inneficient not only in what it processes, but the fact that it is badly bottlenecked on even last gen hardware. So efficient use of more than one thread, SLI and Crossfire support etc. Anti-aliasing needs immediate loving too.
2. Once the above issues are addressed, they can start looking at how it will use the current gen high end hardware and software (that means 4 core CPUs efficiently and possibly 8 threads (althought the top end is 6 cores) and DX11-tesselation, direct compute etc) Also efficient use of 64bit.exe with memory over 4gb. Also needed is support for 3 way SLI and crossfire which is becoming very common (for example 3 460s).
3. Once the above is done they can start working on next gen hardware that will be released mid way-end to the end of this year, so by the time they get to it will probably be high end current gen (aka point 2) which is 8 core cpus, with 16 threads (AMD Bulldozer) and a possible 32nm 8 core and 16 thread intel cpu for 1366 socket. At the end of 2011 Nvidia is coming out with their brand new 28nm (current is 40nm I believe) GPUs, AMD is likely to do the same (AMD since ATI was bought out and they are phasing out the use of ATI brand name).
4. By this time then they can start looking at what is coming in the future
