What are best practices for evaluating the credibility of upcoming game leaks?

[Jeffrey85]

I saw some unverified leaks online about a potential sequel to a beloved franchise, and while I'm excited, I'm trying to temper my expectations and figure out how credible these rumors might be. The leaks include some specific details about gameplay mechanics and a setting that seem plausible based on the developer's past work. For those who follow industry rumors closely, what are the generally accepted best practices for evaluating the credibility of a leak, and which sources or types of leaks have historically proven to be accurate versus pure speculation?