Why can't I use a Display Name from an inactive account?

There are times that you search for a Display Name on our platform (Fortnite, Fall Guys, Rocket League, Epic Games Store) and found no result, yet you still get an error message saying the display name is already taken if you try to change yours into that display name.

In cases such as this, that error is confirmation that the display name is still being used on an account and cannot be used again until the current user frees it up. Player Support does not have the ability to free up or take a Display Name from an account regardless of the account status.