UK · 1983–1990
The British magazine for Commodore computers, launched in 1983 and published by EMAP from 1984. It grew from programming tutorials into a games magazine and became CU Amiga in 1990.
Commodore User published a preview issue in June 1983 and its first regular issue that October. Its first twelve issues were published by the Paradox Group; from October 1984 the publisher was EMAP. The early magazine reflected the way home computers were used in the early 1980s, with programming tutorials, machine code features and reviews of business software alongside games. Games quickly took a larger share of the pages. Game coverage began in the second issue, and from the third the magazine had a dedicated games section, Screen Scene. As the Commodore 64 became one of Britain's most popular home computers, Commodore User became a leading source of C64 game reviews, reaching a peak circulation of more than 70,000 copies around 1988. The arrival of the Amiga changed the magazine. In February 1989 it became CU Commodore User Amiga-64, soon shortened to CU Amiga-64, and the final issue under the Commodore User name, number 77, appeared in February 1990. It relaunched in March 1990 as CU Amiga, which ran until October 1998. Time Extension later described the magazine around 1990 as the gold standard for UK computer game coverage.