Nintendo has posted a surprise net profit for the last three months following a moderate upturn in Wii U sales.

For the period running from July through September, the company posted a net profit of 24.2 billion yen (about $222m). The improved performances all but wiped out the operating loss posted in the previous period.

Cost-cutting measures undergone earlier in the year were also a major factor for the healthier figures.

Wii U hardware sales stood at 0.61m units for the quarter, up from 0.51m in the previous quarter, and more than doubling the sales from the same period a year ago. It was also the most successful non-holiday quarter for the system yet. Software sales were at 5.01m units for the three months, down slightly from year ago, but up slightly from April through June.

Total worldwide Wii U sales stand at 7.29 million, whilst software sales are at 41.67 million.

3DS hardware sales for the quarter were 1.27 million, pushing total sales past 45.42 million. Software sales were 14.73 million, lifting total sales to 186.22 million.