When it comes to errors and bugs, the Steam client is pretty smooth, with very rare occurrences of outages and errors, but like every server, the Steam servers can also go through issues. The Steam error e502 l3 is an indication that there is an issue with the service. Unlike some of the other error codes, this error is very specific. Here is what you need to know about the error.
Is Steam Error E502 L3 Fixable
The Steam error code e502 l3 is usually seen when a big game launches, such as the recent Modern Warfare 2. When a large number of players, usually hundreds of thousands, wait for a game and start to download the game simultaneously, the Steam servers can get overstrained and result in the error code for the players it cannot facilitate at the time. You may also see the error during Steam summer sales when there are a lot of AAA titles on sale, and people rush to download them.
So, can you fix the error? Unfortunately, you cannot. The only fix that can work is to keep retrying or download the game after the initial buzz of the summer sale has faded or after a few hours from the launch of a big title.
In my experience, this error resolves itself within the first few hours of a major release but can be extended depending on the game’s popularity. Another thing you can do is check the status of the Steam servers. You can visit Downdetector for that. On Downdetector, you can not only check the server’s current status as reported by users but also scroll down to check if others are also getting the same error.
Steam Error E502 L3 occurs exclusively when the Steam servers are strained, so you don’t need to worry about anything on your end.
