Are you trying to acquire the massively popular Hollow Knight: Silksong or attempting to buy something else on Steam, and just came across this cryptic error message?
Then, well, I’d like to tell you that the solution is right there on the screen!
Error E502 L3 points to a server-side issue, meaning it’s a problem on Valve’s end. To be more precise, this specific error code can pop up whenever you’re logging in or browsing the Steam store. It also commonly refers to a problem in Steam’s storefront, one likely related to the massive potential customer influx that hits the platform whenever Valve announces a hot new item.
The latest Steam Deck was one such item when it came out a few months ago, as it immediately jumped to the top of Steam’s wishlist charts upon its announcement. Now it’s happening with Silksong, which quickly became one of the biggest games of the year, despite being an indie.
As such, unless the problem has already been fixed and you’ll just have to restart Steam for it to regain access to your transactions, there’s nothing you can do other than wait and check Steam DB for updates on all sorts of server-side issues.
Valve was quick to acknowledge the issue the last time it got so widespread, so it’ll likely be quick to get to it this time around as well.
Whatever happens, though, let’s not give Valve too much crap, as Silksong has pretty much broke every storefront it entered.
You can now attempt to purchase the new Hollow Knight: Silksong on Steam.
Published: Sep 4, 2025 11:17 am