Are you trying to buy something on Steam and see “There seems to be an error initializing or updating your transaction”? The solution to this error is one – Silksong (at least if you read this text on September 4).
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If you want to buy the game but can’t do that due to “There seems to be an error initializing or updating your transaction,” there is a simple answer to that problem – a new popular game has been launched. When some really anticipated productions hit Steam, servers are not handling that well and errors like e502 l3 or “There seems to be an error initializing or updating your transaction” can happen.
If you are here on September 4, 2025, it means that the source of your problem is Hollow Knight: Silksong. Simply too many players are trying to buy it right now and the payments can’t be processed fast enough. Probably the best way to deal with this issue is just to wait for the situation to calm down. It will go back to normal at some point.
Silksong has crashed all stores – Xbox, Steam, PS5, Switch. Even despite that, over 100,000 people play it on Steam right now (via SteamDB). So, it means that the issue may last for some time still. Be prepared for that.
If you read this article on a different time than Silksong release, check out if there are no other big release on that day. “There seems to be an error initializing or updating your transaction” error often appears alongside such events. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if it is also true in your case. Fortunately, releases that can crash Steam are really rare! Good luck and hopefully you will purchase the game soon.
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Author: Damian Gacek
Graduate of English Philology and English in Public Communication. His portfolio includes a scientific article on video game translation. Working with Gamepressure.com since 2019, writing for various departments. Currently, deals with guides and occasionally supports the newsroom. Interested in electronic entertainment since childhood. Loves RPGs and strategies, often also immersing himself in the depths of indie games. In his free time, works on a book and learns film editing.