Direct quote 2019-11-27
“I thought, I'll tell her once I've become a little successful. I didn't want her to worry.”
What it documents
After leaving Konami and launching his independent studio to begin developing Death Stranding, Kojima kept the project secret from his mother because he thought he would tell her once he had become a little successful and did not want her to worry. His mother died during the game's gestation, and Kojima says he regrets not having told her about it.
Source
Vulture, by Harold Goldberg, 2019-11-27. View source ↗
“He developed such a feeling of protectiveness toward her that when he launched his independent studio post-Konami and began developing Death Stranding, Kojima kept it a secret from her. [...] But she died during the game's gestation. [...] Kojima admits to regrets about not telling his mother about the game. He appears shaken as he says it.”